Fox snake
| Fox snakes | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Western fox snake, Pantherophis vulpinus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Colubrinae |
| Tribe: | Lampropeltini |
| Genus: |
see Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843 |
Fox snake or Foxsnake is the common name given to two species of North American rat snakes: the western fox snake (Pantherophis vulpinus) and the eastern fox snake (Pantherophis gloydi). Neither poses a threat to humans, but is killed by many people who mistake it for the venomous massasauga rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus), which shares parts of its geographic range with both species of fox snakes.
The eastern fox snake (Pantherophis gloydi) is uncommon throughout its restricted range in Ontario, Michigan, and Ohio, where it is found only near Lakes Huron and Erie.
The western fox snake (Pantherophis vulpinus) occurs in the open forests, prairies, and farmlands of western Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, and South Dakota.
Their ranges do not overlap.
Until recently the eastern and western fox snakes were considered to be subspecies of Elaphe vulpina, with the western fox snake being Elaphe vulpina vulpina and the eastern fox snake Elaphe vulpina gloydi.
Utiger et al. (2002) argued that North American rat snakes of the genus Elaphe are a monophyletic group and thus separate from Old World members of the genus. They therefore resurrected the available name Pantherophis Fitzinger for all North American taxa (north of Mexico).
However, much controversy over the taxonomic suggestion surfaced and the International Committee for Zoological Nomenclature has not supported the change. In 2008, Crother et al. retained the taxonomic change to Pantherophis "until further data are collected".
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Wikipedia