Rat snakes are members – along with kingsnakes, milk snakes, vine snakes and indigo snakes – of the subfamily Colubrinae of the family ColubridaeThey are medium to large constrictors and are found throughout much of the Northern HemisphereThey feed primarily on rodentsMany species make attractive and docile pets and one, the corn snake, is one of the most popular reptile petsColubridae (/ k ə ˈ l uː b r ɪ d iː /, commonly known as colubrids / ˈ k ɒ lj ʊ b r ɪ d z /, from Latin coluber, 'snake') is a family of snakesWith 249 genera, it is the largest snake family The earliest species of the family date back to the Oligocene epoch Colubrid snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica
Black Racer U S National Park Service