Species:
Coluber constrictor
North American Racer
Some other names for this species:
Racer, Eastern Racer
Subspecies I've seen:
Subspecies:
Coluber constrictor constrictor
Northern Black Racer
April 11, 2008
Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, Dare County, North Carolina
This was the first snake I came across in our stay on the Outer Banks. It is clearly on the verge of shedding its skin, which makes it nearly patternless and hard to recognize. I'm pretty certain it's Coluber constrictor based on comparison with the various snakes in this area.
Subspecies:
Coluber constrictor mormon
Western Yellow-bellied Racer
July 25, 1998
Pescadero Marsh Natural Preserve, San Mateo County, California
Amongst the numerous
gartersnakes at Pescadero Marsh are many of these racers, none of whom want to sit still to have their picture taken. There really is a snake in this picture. Really.
April 6, 2002
Fort Ord Public Lands, Monterey County, California
July 31, 2005
San Mateo County, California
Though adult racers are generally solid-colored, the young ones display a prominent pattern. This snake is a on the verge of adulthood; its markings are visible but have mostly faded.
Subspecies:
Coluber constrictor paludicola
Everglades Racer
December 31, 1998
Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, Florida
This elegant dark gray snake was sunning itself on a rock wall when I first noticed it. It then noticed me, and climbed up into some vegetation to hide. Unlike its yellow-bellied cousins, it didn't race off; once it was concealed in the bushes, it stayed motionless.
December 27, 2000
Fairchild Tropical Garden, Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, Florida
I discovered three of these small stealthy snakes in the cactus garden section of Fairchild Tropical Gardens. They have distinctive large, orange eyes.
February 28, 2004
Cape Canaveral National Seashore, Merritt Island, Brevard County, Florida
The range of the Everglades Racer is the southern end of Florida including the Florida Keys, but also a small area around Merritt Island and Cape Canaveral on the east coast of central Florida. The racers in the rest of Florida are considered to be a different subspecies, the
Southern Black Racer. The differences between the two subspecies are very subtle (Everglades Racers aren't usually as dark, their chins are usually less white, and their eyes are usually yellowish rather than orangish or reddish), so it seems likely that this division might be artificial.
This snake was prowling around in the sand scrub in mid-afternoon on a chilly day.
March 6, 2004
Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, Florida
Racers aren't averse to a little suburban living. This one was inspecting the grass in my mother-in-law's backyard, probably looking for
Brown Anoles to devour.
Subspecies:
Coluber constrictor priapus
Southern Black Racer
February 29, 2004
Smyrna Dunes, Volusia County, Florida
The good thing about finding racers on coolish days in late summer or early spring is that they might just bask, rather than speeding off in an instant as they tend to do on warmer days. This one was right up at eye level a few feet off of the boardwalk at Smyrna Dunes.
March 1, 2004
Alexander Springs, Ocala National Forest, Lake County, Florida
Speaking of racers basking on coolish days, this very cooperative snake held its position despite the tremendous amount of crashing about in the thick palmetto bushes that I found necessary in order to get my tripod into a decent position.
Dr. Terry Farrell found this snake while he,
Dr. Peter May, and I spent a fine day herping in Ocala National Forest.
April 19, 2008
Cumberland Falls State Resort Park, Whitley County, Kentucky
Racers are among the most easily seen snakes in much of the country, so they are generally not considered particularly exciting. However, after an entire snake-free week across various states I was more than happy to come across this impressive individual. It hung around much longer than typical for a racer before rapidly escaping across the forest floor.
