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Введение
Род змей Pantherophis – род неядовитых змей семейства Colubridae, эндемичных для центральных и восточных регионов Северной Америки. В него входят североамериканские крысовые змеи, лисьи змеи и кукурузные змеи. Род, включающий 10 признанных видов, впервые появился в палеонтологических находках в среднем миоцене, около 16,3 миллионов лет назад. Это крупный наземный род змей, не имеющий надочешуйных щитков. Изначально классифицированный в роде Elaphe, филогенетические исследования показали тесную связь этого таксона с родом Pituophis. Как и все змеи, Pantherophis является облигатным фаунивором, в рацион которого входят мелкие млекопитающие, птицы, рептилии, амфибии и даже насекомые. Хотя природоохранный статус многих видов классифицируется как "вызывающий наименьшие опасения", численность многих локальных популяций некоторых видов сокращается, и в некоторых регионах они находятся под федеральной охраной. Кукурузная змея (P. guttatus) – популярный домашний питомец благодаря доступности особей, выращенных в неволе, их неприхотливости в содержании, спокойному нраву и разнообразию цветовых морф. Существуют и другие виды Pantherophis, которые продаются в качестве домашних животных, хотя они не так популярны, как кукурузная змея.
Genus of snakes
Pantherophis is a genus of nonvenomous colubrid snakes endemic to central and eastern regions of North America. It consists of the North American ratsnakes, the foxsnakes, and the cornsnakes. The genus, which contains 10 recognized species, first appeared in the fossil record in the Middle Miocene around 16.3 million years ago. They are a large terrestrial snake genus that lack subocular scales. Originally classified in the genus Elaphe, phylogenetic studies have found this taxon to be closely related to Pituophis. As with all snakes Pantherophis is an obligate faunivore with a diet that consists of small mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and even insects. While many species conservation status is categorized as "least concern", many local populations in some species have declined where some places have them listed as federally protected. The corn snake (P. guttatus) is a popular pet reptile, due to the availability of captive bred animals, their low maintenance and calm disposition, and the variety of color morphs. There are other species of Pantherophis that are in the pet trade, though are not as popular as the corn snake.
Характеристики поля
Виды рода Pantherophis – крупные наземные змеи, приспособленные к удушению. Для змей рода Pantherophis характерно наличие разделенной клоачной пластины. Спинные чешуйки расположены более чем в 30 рядов вокруг тела, и по крайней мере часть из них килевидные, хотя и слабо выраженные. У всех видов отсутствуют надокулярные чешуйки.
Member species in the genus Pantherophis are large terrestrial snakes, built for constriction. Pantherophis is characterized by having a divided cloacal plate. The dorsal scales are arranged in more than 30 rows around the body, and at least some of these are keeled, albeit faintly. All species lack subocular scales.
Таксономия
Таксономия рода *Pantherophis* была сложной областью исследований. Род был описан австрийским зоологом Леопольдом Фитцингером в 1843 году, а *Pantherophis guttatus* был выбран типовым видом. Вскоре после этого род рассматривался как младший синоним рода *Elaphe*, распространенного в Старом Свете. Однако, изучение морфологии полуполовых органов, строения зубов и особенностей ороговения чешуи показало, что новосветские виды ближе к роду *Pituophis* (змеи гоферы, сосновые змеи и бычьи змеи). Последующие молекулярные исследования подтвердили близкое родство между *Pituophis* и североамериканскими видами *Elaphe*, что привело к восстановлению рода *Pantherophis*. Эти два рода, вместе с несколькими другими североамериканскими эндемичными таксонами, такими как *Lampropeltis*, относятся к трибе *Lampropeltini*. Для поддержания таксономической стабильности некоторые из ранее выделенных подродов пересматриваются в качестве самостоятельных родов. Однако, это не подтверждается более масштабными молекулярными филогенетическими деревьями, отражающими родственные связи различных таксонов змей.
The taxonomy of Pantherophis has been a complicated area of research. The genus was named by the Austrian zoologist Leopold Fitzinger in 1843, with the type species being Pantherophis guttatus. Shortly after, the genus was then considered to be a junior synonym of the otherwise Old World genus Elaphe. However the morphology of the hemipenes, the dentition, and the squamatization found the New World species to be closer to the genus Pituophis (gopher snakes, pine snakes, and bullsnakes). Subsequent molecular studies have found support of the sister grouping between Pituophis and the North American Elaphe species, which resulted in the resurrection of the genus Pantherophis. These two genera, along with several other North American endemic taxa like Lampropeltis belong to the tribe Lampropeltini. To maintain taxonomic stability, some of the aforementioned subgenera are reevaluated into proper genera. This, however, has not been supported by larger scale molecular trees concerning the relationships of various snake taxa.
Филогения
В межвидовых отношениях *Pantherophis* обычно подгенера *Pantherophis* и *Mintonius* являются сестринскими таксонами, а *Scotophis* находится у основания рода. Ниже представлено широко поддерживаемое филогенетическое дерево видов в роде. Род *Pantherophis* Fitzinger, 1843.
The interspecies relationships of Pantherophis usually has the subgenera Pantherophis and Mintonius being sister taxa, with Scotophis at the root of the genus. Below is the widely supported phylogenetic tree of the species in the genus. Genus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843Subgenus Scotophis Baird & Girard, 1853 Scientific Name Common Name Geographic Distribution Image FigurePantherophis bairdi (Yarrow, 1880)Baird's ratsnakeSouthwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. Pantherophis obsoletus (Say, 1823)western ratsnake or Texas ratsnakeWest of the Mississippi River, from eastern and southern Iowa southward through Missouri and Arkansas to western Louisiana, westward to eastern Texas, northward through Oklahoma and eastern Kansas to southeastern Nebraska. Pantherophis alleghaniensis (Holbrook, 1836)eastern ratsnake United States east of the Apalachicola River in Florida, east of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, east of the Appalachian Mountains, north to southeastern New York and western Vermont, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, south to the Florida Keys. Pantherophis spiloides (A. M. C. Duméril, Bibron & A. H. A. Duméril, 1854)midland ratsnake or gray ratsnakeEastern and Central United States, west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi RiverSubgenus Mintonius Collins & Taggart, 2008Pantherophis ramspotti Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner, 2011western foxsnake United States, west of the Mississippi River. Pantherophis vulpinus (Baird & Girard, 1853)eastern foxsnake Eastern Great Lakes region of the United States, as well as adjacent western Ontario in Canada. Subgenus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843 Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)corn snakeSoutheastern and central United States. Pantherophis emoryi (Baird & Girard, 1853)Great Plains ratsnakeUnited States, from Missouri to Nebraska, to Colorado, south to Texas, and into northern Mexico
Nota bene: In this list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pantherophis.
Подрод *Scotophis* Baird & Girard, 1853
The interspecies relationships of Pantherophis usually has the subgenera Pantherophis and Mintonius being sister taxa, with Scotophis at the root of the genus. Below is the widely supported phylogenetic tree of the species in the genus. Genus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843Subgenus Scotophis Baird & Girard, 1853 Scientific Name Common Name Geographic Distribution Image FigurePantherophis bairdi (Yarrow, 1880)Baird's ratsnakeSouthwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. Pantherophis obsoletus (Say, 1823)western ratsnake or Texas ratsnakeWest of the Mississippi River, from eastern and southern Iowa southward through Missouri and Arkansas to western Louisiana, westward to eastern Texas, northward through Oklahoma and eastern Kansas to southeastern Nebraska. Pantherophis alleghaniensis (Holbrook, 1836)eastern ratsnake United States east of the Apalachicola River in Florida, east of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, east of the Appalachian Mountains, north to southeastern New York and western Vermont, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, south to the Florida Keys. Pantherophis spiloides (A. M. C. Duméril, Bibron & A. H. A. Duméril, 1854)midland ratsnake or gray ratsnakeEastern and Central United States, west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi RiverSubgenus Mintonius Collins & Taggart, 2008Pantherophis ramspotti Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner, 2011western foxsnake United States, west of the Mississippi River. Pantherophis vulpinus (Baird & Girard, 1853)eastern foxsnake Eastern Great Lakes region of the United States, as well as adjacent western Ontario in Canada. Subgenus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843 Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)corn snakeSoutheastern and central United States. Pantherophis emoryi (Baird & Girard, 1853)Great Plains ratsnakeUnited States, from Missouri to Nebraska, to Colorado, south to Texas, and into northern Mexico
Nota bene: In this list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pantherophis.
| Научное название | Обычное название | Географическое распространение | Изображение | Фигура |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Pantherophis bairdi* (Yarrow, 1880) | Крысиный полоз Байрда | Юго-западные Соединенные Штаты и прилегающий северо-восток Мексики | | |
| *Pantherophis obsoletus* (Say, 1823) | Западный крысиный полоз или техасский крысиный полоз | Западнее реки Миссисипи, от восточной и южной Айовы на юг через Миссури и Арканзас до западной Луизианы, на запад до восточного Техаса, на север через Оклахому и восточный Канзас до юго-восточной Небраски | | |
| *Pantherophis alleghaniensis* (Holbrook, 1836) | Восточный крысиный полоз | Соединенные Штаты к востоку от реки Апалачикола во Флориде, к востоку от реки Чаттахучи в Джорджии, к востоку от Аппалачей, на север до юго-восточного Нью-Йорка и западного Вермонта, восточной Пенсильвании, Мэриленда, Южной Каролины, Северной Каролины, Джорджии, на юг до Флорида-Кис | | |
| *Pantherophis spiloides* (A. M. C. Duméril, Bibron & A. H. A. Duméril, 1854) | Средний крысиный полоз или серый крысиный полоз | Восточные и Центральные Соединенные Штаты, к западу от Аппалачей и к востоку от реки Миссисипи | | |
The interspecies relationships of Pantherophis usually has the subgenera Pantherophis and Mintonius being sister taxa, with Scotophis at the root of the genus. Below is the widely supported phylogenetic tree of the species in the genus. Genus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843Subgenus Scotophis Baird & Girard, 1853 Scientific Name Common Name Geographic Distribution Image FigurePantherophis bairdi (Yarrow, 1880)Baird's ratsnakeSouthwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. Pantherophis obsoletus (Say, 1823)western ratsnake or Texas ratsnakeWest of the Mississippi River, from eastern and southern Iowa southward through Missouri and Arkansas to western Louisiana, westward to eastern Texas, northward through Oklahoma and eastern Kansas to southeastern Nebraska. Pantherophis alleghaniensis (Holbrook, 1836)eastern ratsnake United States east of the Apalachicola River in Florida, east of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, east of the Appalachian Mountains, north to southeastern New York and western Vermont, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, south to the Florida Keys. Pantherophis spiloides (A. M. C. Duméril, Bibron & A. H. A. Duméril, 1854)midland ratsnake or gray ratsnakeEastern and Central United States, west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi RiverSubgenus Mintonius Collins & Taggart, 2008Pantherophis ramspotti Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner, 2011western foxsnake United States, west of the Mississippi River. Pantherophis vulpinus (Baird & Girard, 1853)eastern foxsnake Eastern Great Lakes region of the United States, as well as adjacent western Ontario in Canada. Subgenus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843 Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)corn snakeSoutheastern and central United States. Pantherophis emoryi (Baird & Girard, 1853)Great Plains ratsnakeUnited States, from Missouri to Nebraska, to Colorado, south to Texas, and into northern Mexico
Nota bene: In this list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pantherophis.
Подрод *Mintonius* Collins & Taggart, 2008
The interspecies relationships of Pantherophis usually has the subgenera Pantherophis and Mintonius being sister taxa, with Scotophis at the root of the genus. Below is the widely supported phylogenetic tree of the species in the genus. Genus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843Subgenus Scotophis Baird & Girard, 1853 Scientific Name Common Name Geographic Distribution Image FigurePantherophis bairdi (Yarrow, 1880)Baird's ratsnakeSouthwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. Pantherophis obsoletus (Say, 1823)western ratsnake or Texas ratsnakeWest of the Mississippi River, from eastern and southern Iowa southward through Missouri and Arkansas to western Louisiana, westward to eastern Texas, northward through Oklahoma and eastern Kansas to southeastern Nebraska. Pantherophis alleghaniensis (Holbrook, 1836)eastern ratsnake United States east of the Apalachicola River in Florida, east of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, east of the Appalachian Mountains, north to southeastern New York and western Vermont, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, south to the Florida Keys. Pantherophis spiloides (A. M. C. Duméril, Bibron & A. H. A. Duméril, 1854)midland ratsnake or gray ratsnakeEastern and Central United States, west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi RiverSubgenus Mintonius Collins & Taggart, 2008Pantherophis ramspotti Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner, 2011western foxsnake United States, west of the Mississippi River. Pantherophis vulpinus (Baird & Girard, 1853)eastern foxsnake Eastern Great Lakes region of the United States, as well as adjacent western Ontario in Canada. Subgenus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843 Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)corn snakeSoutheastern and central United States. Pantherophis emoryi (Baird & Girard, 1853)Great Plains ratsnakeUnited States, from Missouri to Nebraska, to Colorado, south to Texas, and into northern Mexico
Nota bene: In this list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pantherophis.
| Научное название | Обычное название | Географическое распространение | Изображение | Фигура |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Pantherophis ramspotti* Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner, 2011 | Западный лисий полоз | Соединенные Штаты, к западу от реки Миссисипи | | |
| *Pantherophis vulpinus* (Baird & Girard, 1853) | Восточный лисий полоз | Восточный регион Великих озер Соединенных Штатов, а также прилегающий западный Онтарио в Канаде | | |
The interspecies relationships of Pantherophis usually has the subgenera Pantherophis and Mintonius being sister taxa, with Scotophis at the root of the genus. Below is the widely supported phylogenetic tree of the species in the genus. Genus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843Subgenus Scotophis Baird & Girard, 1853 Scientific Name Common Name Geographic Distribution Image FigurePantherophis bairdi (Yarrow, 1880)Baird's ratsnakeSouthwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. Pantherophis obsoletus (Say, 1823)western ratsnake or Texas ratsnakeWest of the Mississippi River, from eastern and southern Iowa southward through Missouri and Arkansas to western Louisiana, westward to eastern Texas, northward through Oklahoma and eastern Kansas to southeastern Nebraska. Pantherophis alleghaniensis (Holbrook, 1836)eastern ratsnake United States east of the Apalachicola River in Florida, east of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, east of the Appalachian Mountains, north to southeastern New York and western Vermont, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, south to the Florida Keys. Pantherophis spiloides (A. M. C. Duméril, Bibron & A. H. A. Duméril, 1854)midland ratsnake or gray ratsnakeEastern and Central United States, west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi RiverSubgenus Mintonius Collins & Taggart, 2008Pantherophis ramspotti Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner, 2011western foxsnake United States, west of the Mississippi River. Pantherophis vulpinus (Baird & Girard, 1853)eastern foxsnake Eastern Great Lakes region of the United States, as well as adjacent western Ontario in Canada. Subgenus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843 Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)corn snakeSoutheastern and central United States. Pantherophis emoryi (Baird & Girard, 1853)Great Plains ratsnakeUnited States, from Missouri to Nebraska, to Colorado, south to Texas, and into northern Mexico
Nota bene: In this list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pantherophis.
Подрод *Pantherophis* Fitzinger, 1843
The interspecies relationships of Pantherophis usually has the subgenera Pantherophis and Mintonius being sister taxa, with Scotophis at the root of the genus. Below is the widely supported phylogenetic tree of the species in the genus. Genus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843Subgenus Scotophis Baird & Girard, 1853 Scientific Name Common Name Geographic Distribution Image FigurePantherophis bairdi (Yarrow, 1880)Baird's ratsnakeSouthwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. Pantherophis obsoletus (Say, 1823)western ratsnake or Texas ratsnakeWest of the Mississippi River, from eastern and southern Iowa southward through Missouri and Arkansas to western Louisiana, westward to eastern Texas, northward through Oklahoma and eastern Kansas to southeastern Nebraska. Pantherophis alleghaniensis (Holbrook, 1836)eastern ratsnake United States east of the Apalachicola River in Florida, east of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, east of the Appalachian Mountains, north to southeastern New York and western Vermont, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, south to the Florida Keys. Pantherophis spiloides (A. M. C. Duméril, Bibron & A. H. A. Duméril, 1854)midland ratsnake or gray ratsnakeEastern and Central United States, west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi RiverSubgenus Mintonius Collins & Taggart, 2008Pantherophis ramspotti Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner, 2011western foxsnake United States, west of the Mississippi River. Pantherophis vulpinus (Baird & Girard, 1853)eastern foxsnake Eastern Great Lakes region of the United States, as well as adjacent western Ontario in Canada. Subgenus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843 Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)corn snakeSoutheastern and central United States. Pantherophis emoryi (Baird & Girard, 1853)Great Plains ratsnakeUnited States, from Missouri to Nebraska, to Colorado, south to Texas, and into northern Mexico
Nota bene: In this list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pantherophis.
| Научное название | Обычное название | Географическое распространение | Изображение | Фигура |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| *Pantherophis guttatus* (Linnaeus, 1766) | Кукурузный полоз | Юго-восточные и центральные Соединенные Штаты | | |
| *Pantherophis emoryi* (Baird & Girard, 1853) | Равнинный крысиный полоз | Соединенные Штаты, от Миссури до Небраски, до Колорадо, на юг до Техаса и в северную Мексику | | |
The interspecies relationships of Pantherophis usually has the subgenera Pantherophis and Mintonius being sister taxa, with Scotophis at the root of the genus. Below is the widely supported phylogenetic tree of the species in the genus. Genus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843Subgenus Scotophis Baird & Girard, 1853 Scientific Name Common Name Geographic Distribution Image FigurePantherophis bairdi (Yarrow, 1880)Baird's ratsnakeSouthwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. Pantherophis obsoletus (Say, 1823)western ratsnake or Texas ratsnakeWest of the Mississippi River, from eastern and southern Iowa southward through Missouri and Arkansas to western Louisiana, westward to eastern Texas, northward through Oklahoma and eastern Kansas to southeastern Nebraska. Pantherophis alleghaniensis (Holbrook, 1836)eastern ratsnake United States east of the Apalachicola River in Florida, east of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, east of the Appalachian Mountains, north to southeastern New York and western Vermont, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, south to the Florida Keys. Pantherophis spiloides (A. M. C. Duméril, Bibron & A. H. A. Duméril, 1854)midland ratsnake or gray ratsnakeEastern and Central United States, west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi RiverSubgenus Mintonius Collins & Taggart, 2008Pantherophis ramspotti Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner, 2011western foxsnake United States, west of the Mississippi River. Pantherophis vulpinus (Baird & Girard, 1853)eastern foxsnake Eastern Great Lakes region of the United States, as well as adjacent western Ontario in Canada. Subgenus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843 Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)corn snakeSoutheastern and central United States. Pantherophis emoryi (Baird & Girard, 1853)Great Plains ratsnakeUnited States, from Missouri to Nebraska, to Colorado, south to Texas, and into northern Mexico
Nota bene: In this list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pantherophis.
Примечание: В этом списке биноминальный автор в скобках указывает, что вид был первоначально описан в роде, отличном от *Pantherophis*.
The interspecies relationships of Pantherophis usually has the subgenera Pantherophis and Mintonius being sister taxa, with Scotophis at the root of the genus. Below is the widely supported phylogenetic tree of the species in the genus. Genus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843Subgenus Scotophis Baird & Girard, 1853 Scientific Name Common Name Geographic Distribution Image FigurePantherophis bairdi (Yarrow, 1880)Baird's ratsnakeSouthwestern United States and adjacent northeastern Mexico. Pantherophis obsoletus (Say, 1823)western ratsnake or Texas ratsnakeWest of the Mississippi River, from eastern and southern Iowa southward through Missouri and Arkansas to western Louisiana, westward to eastern Texas, northward through Oklahoma and eastern Kansas to southeastern Nebraska. Pantherophis alleghaniensis (Holbrook, 1836)eastern ratsnake United States east of the Apalachicola River in Florida, east of the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, east of the Appalachian Mountains, north to southeastern New York and western Vermont, eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, south to the Florida Keys. Pantherophis spiloides (A. M. C. Duméril, Bibron & A. H. A. Duméril, 1854)midland ratsnake or gray ratsnakeEastern and Central United States, west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi RiverSubgenus Mintonius Collins & Taggart, 2008Pantherophis ramspotti Crother, White, Savage, Eckstut, Graham & Gardner, 2011western foxsnake United States, west of the Mississippi River. Pantherophis vulpinus (Baird & Girard, 1853)eastern foxsnake Eastern Great Lakes region of the United States, as well as adjacent western Ontario in Canada. Subgenus Pantherophis Fitzinger, 1843 Pantherophis guttatus (Linnaeus, 1766)corn snakeSoutheastern and central United States. Pantherophis emoryi (Baird & Girard, 1853)Great Plains ratsnakeUnited States, from Missouri to Nebraska, to Colorado, south to Texas, and into northern Mexico
Nota bene: In this list, a binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Pantherophis.
Окаменелости
Ископаемые останки рода Pantherophis датируются средним миоценом — верхним плейстоценом. Помимо ископаемых останков некоторых из ныне существующих видов, фрагментарные останки Pantherophis встречаются на протяжении второй половины кайнозоя в Северной Америке. Из более полных останков описано лишь три ископаемых вида. Раннеплиоценовый P. buisi, который, возможно, является базальным видом в подроде Scotophis, и P. kansensis, являющийся единственным видом в подроде Palaeoelaphe, с позвонками туловища, схожими с подродом Mintonius. P. nebraskensis был признан отдельным видом, но в настоящее время считается младшим синонимом P. kansensis.
The fossil record of Pantherophis is the Middle Miocene to Upper Pleistocene. In addition to fossil remains of some of the extant species, there are fragmentary Pantherophis remains throughout the second half of the Cenozoic in North America. Only three fossil species have been described from more complete remains. The Early Pliocene P. buisi which might be a basal species in the Scotophis subgenus, and P. kansensis which is the sole species in the subgenus of Palaeoelaphe, the trunk vertebrae similar to Mintonius subgenus. P. nebraskensis was another valid species, but it is considered to be a junior synonym of P. kansensis.