plural eastern rat snakes
Definition of eastern rat snake
: a large, heavy-bodied, nonvenomous rat snake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) that is typically black with a white throat, usually reaches over five feet (1.5 meters) in length, feeds on birds and small animals (such as mice, rats, and frogs), and is found east of the Appalachian Mountains and the Apalachicola River
Note: In an alternative classification system, the eastern rat snake is not considered a separate species but rather included within other eastern subspecies (such as Pantherophis obsoletus obsoletus and P. obsoletus quadrivittata) of a common rat snake. Eastern rat snake is also often used synonymously with black rat snake.
— compare gray rat snake, western rat snakeTest Your Vocabulary
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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The first known use of eastern rat snake was in 2001
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