Squamata suborder
Serpentes
Elaphe vulpina
-- Western Foxsnake
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Squamata suborder
Serpentes
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Search for another IL amphibian or reptile Search for IL amphibians & reptiles by county Go to the INHS Amphibian & Reptile Collection homepage Search the INHS collections data for amphibians & reptiles Search the INHS Type Specimen Data for amphibians & reptiles |  
Purple shade indicates vouchered specimens. Light blue (cyan)
shade indicates photographic records. Yellow shade indicates verified
sighting. |
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Key Characters: Back yellow with brown blotches; belly black with yellow checks; back scales weakly keeled; anal plate divided. Similar Species: Prairie kingsnake, milk snake, rat snake, Great Plains rat snake, bullsnake. Subspecies: Western fox snake, E. v. vulpina. Description: Large (up to 130 cm TL) snake with copper-colored head distinctly wider than neck. Back yellow to bronze with 34-42 reddish brown blotches and an alternating row of brown spots along each side. Belly yellow and boldly marked with black. Hatchling and juvenile resemble adult except for having gray ground coloring and black or dark chestnut blotches. Habitat: Variety of open and former prairie habitats, including intensively cultivated fields and pastures, in the northern half of the state. Natural History: A diurnal constrictor that, like many other snakes, often vibrates its tail when threatened. Active early spring through late autumn, even on warm winter days when drawn from its underground hibernation. Mates from June to early July and lays 8-27 eggs about 30 days later. Young (ca. 23-30 cm TL) hatch in late August or September. Diet includes small mammals, birds, their eggs, and nestlings. Main predators are carnivorous mammals and raptors. Status: Locally common, especially in Grand Prairie (see distribution map, above). |
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