P. ramspotti

Pantherophis ramspotti
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Pantherophis
Species:	P. ramspotti
Binomial name
Pantherophis ramspotti Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner, 2011

Pantherophis ramspotti, commonly known as the western fox snake or western foxsnake, is a species of rat snake that is endemic to the upper midwestern United States, west of the Mississippi river. It is non-venomous.

The scientific name, ramspotti, is in honor of the late aspiring herpetologist Joseph Ramspott.

Prior to 2011 when P. ramspotti was proposed as a new species name, it was thought to be the same species as P. vulpinus, and P. vulpinus was sometimes called the western foxsnake. A 2011 paper by Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham, Gardner proposed that the Mississippi River be established as the species boundary between two species of foxsnakes, and that those found to its east be considered P. vulpinus (including those previously known as P. gloydi ) and those found to its west be given the new name P. ramspotti. This proposed that P. vulpinus, which had been known as the western foxsnake, become known as the eastern foxsnake, and the new P. ramspotti become known as the western foxsnake.

P. ramspotti is found is found in the upper midwestern United States, west of the Mississippi river.

The range of the closely related Pantherophis vulpinus is east of the Mississippi river. The two species do not overlap and there is no intergrade zone.

Foxsnakes are constrictors and primarily feed on mice and other small rodents. They may also consume young rabbits, frogs, and eggs.

...
Wikipedia