Pantherophis alleghaniensis
Silhouette: Alex Slavenko · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%
The central ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis), also commonly known as the black ratsnake, chicken snake, gray ratsnake, midland ratsnake, and pilot black snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The gray ratsnake is one of eight species within the American ratsnake genus Pantherophis.
The generic name Pantherophis, meaning "panther-like snake", is from Ancient Greek: πάνθηρ: pánthēr, "panther" and Ancient Greek: ὄφις: óphis, "snake". The specific name name alleghaniensis, meaning "of the Allegheny Mountains", refers to the Allegheny Mountains in eastern North America.
A medium to large serpent, the gray ratsnake typically reaches an adult size of 99–183 cm (3.25–6.00 ft) total length (including tail); however, the record is 213.9 cm (7.02 ft). Unlike other Pantherophis, whose conspicuous juvenile pattern fades into adulthood, the gray ratsnake in the southern part of its range does not undergo drastic ontogenetic changes in color or markings. Instead, it retains the juvenile pattern of dark elongate dorsal blotches separated by four, or more, pale gray body scales, a light gray crown with... Wikipedia →
Recording0:03
Canada · 2020
© flutterby18 · iNaturalist · CC BY-NC 4.0
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Philadelphia | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | New York City | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Zoological Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | North Carolina Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | Toronto Zoo | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 5 | Columbus Zoo and Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 6 | Bronx Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 7 | Kansas City Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 8 | Milwaukee County Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 9 | The Maryland Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 10 | Detroit Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 11 | Cape May County Park & Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 12 | Birmingham Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 13 | Indianapolis Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 14 | Memphis Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 15 | Philadelphia Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 16 | Zoo Atlanta | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 17 | Lehigh Valley Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 18 | Trailside Museum & Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 19 | Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 20 | Elmwood Park Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 21 | Greenville Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 22 | Bear Hollow Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 23 | Sobela Ocean Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 24 | Tennessee Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 25 | Belle Isle Nature Center | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 26 | Scales Nature Park | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
| 27 | Museum of Life and Science | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 28 | Wildlife Center of Virginia | 🇺🇸 United States |
Likely
About 50% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern/Central Ratsnake Complex sighting in Shenandoah National Park on a given day, based on 240 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 2nd most-seen of the 20 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
May–June and September–October
In those months about 60% of wildlife watchers report an Eastern/Central Ratsnake Complex in Shenandoah National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January to March, the lowest months.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Eastern/Central Ratsnake Complex sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Eastern/Central Ratsnake Complex sightings, Shenandoah National Park has the highest daily chance: about 50%. Next come Great Smoky Mountains National Park (United States, about 40%).
Same family: Colubridae
The closest relatives of the Eastern/Central Ratsnake Complex that you can see in Shenandoah National Park (family Colubridae, Colubrid Snakes) are Common Garter Snake (about 40%), Common Watersnake (about 40%) and Ringneck Snake (about 40%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Eastern/Central Ratsnake Complex is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Shenandoah National Park (240 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
