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The Rat Snake Made
for Climbing
A HANDBOOK on snakes in Alabama describes the rat snake
as an accomplished climber. This one is showing his
skill by climbing the brick side of a building. He is
apparently a young one, since he fits nicely into the
grooves between the bricks. He loves to dine on rats
and mice.
The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of Animal Life reveals
his special skill in climbing: “Rat snakes have
weakly keeled ventral plates. At least one function
of the keel is to provide a sharp corner or projection
that the snake can press against bark and thus obtain
better purchase. It can climb up the trunk of a large
tree by wedging its body between the ridges of bark
and hitching upward at least partly by means of the
keeled ventrals.”
His presence on a tree may make him the target of a
flock of screaming, dive-bombing blue jays. A trek up
the side of this building will probably not end with
birds or bird’s eggs on the menu, but it could
provide a siesta on warm bricks.
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Updated : Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:40:17 GMT
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Updated :
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