gray rat snake

noun

plural gray rat snakes

: a large, heavy-bodied, nonvenomous rat snake (Pantherophis spiloides synonym Elaphe spiloides) of the eastern and central U.S. that is gray with brown to dark gray blotches on the back

Note: In an alternative classification system, the gray rat snake is not considered a separate species but rather included within other subspecies (Pantherophis obsoletus obsoletus and P. obsoletus spiloides) of a common rat snake.

compare eastern rat snake, western rat snake

Examples of gray rat snake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In Tennessee, the snakes were mostly identified as gray rat snakes. —

Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 13 Aug. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gray rat snake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of gray rat snake was in 1914

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Style

“Gray rat snake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gray%20rat%20snake. Accessed 29 Sep. 2024.

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