Eastern racer
The eastern racer (Coluber constrictor) is a type of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It only lives in North America and Central America.
| Eastern racer | |
|---|---|
| File:Coluber constrictor anthicus.jpg | |
| Coluber constrictor anthicus, buttermilk racer | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Coluber Linnaeus, 1758 |
| Species: | C. constrictor
|
| Binomial name | |
| Coluber constrictor | |
| File:Coluber constrictor distribution.png | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
Description
Eastern racers usually grow up to 50 to 152 cm (20 to 60 in) in length. They usually weigh around 556 g (1.226 lb). Its color can range from black, bluish, gray, to olive brown.[3]
Distribution and Habitat
It is found throughout the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains. It is also found north into Canada and south into Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize.
It is usually found near water, but it can also be found in bushes, trash piles, roadsides, and swamps. It spends most of its time on the ground. But, it is a good climber. It may be found in shrubs and trees where there are bird nests.
Most of the eastern racers like open, grassland habitats where their eyesight and speed can be used. They are usually not far from a place to hide.
Feeding
They mainly eat small rodents, frogs, toads, lizards, and other snakes. Some subspecies are known to climb trees to eat eggs and young birds. Young eastern racers usually insects with soft bodies, such as crickets and moths. They overcome moving prey by wrapping into one or two coils pressing its prey to hold it so that it can swallow it alive.[4]
Behaviour
The eastern racers are fast, very active, diurnal snakes. Eastern racers are curious snakes. They have very good vision. They are sometimes seen raising their heads above the grass where they are crawling to see what is around them. They usually run away from a predator. They are hard to hold and will poop, and release a bad smelling liquid from their cloacae.[4]
Reproduction
It mates in the spring from April until early June. The female lays three to 30 eggs in a hidden nest, such as a hollow log, an abandoned rodent burrow, or under a rock. The young ones hatch in the early fall. They reach maturity when they are around 2 years old.
Eastern Racer Media
- Coluber constrictor mormon -- closeup of face, side.jpg
Western yellow-bellied racer (C. c. mormon)
- Southern Black Racer, Richmond Hill, GA, US imported from iNaturalist photo 212797598.jpg
Southern black racer (C. c. priapus) eating a southern leopard frog, in Georgia
- Coluber constrictor anthicus.jpg
Coluber constrictor anthicus
- Coluber constrictorPCCP20030612-1115B.jpg
Coluber constrictorPCCP20030612-1115B
- Tan Racer, Hicks, LA 71446, USA imported from iNaturalist photo 283750000.jpg
Tan Racer, Hicks, LA 71446, USA imported from iNaturalist photo 283750000
- Coluber constrictor flaviventris (1).jpg
Coluber constrictor flaviventris (1)
- Coiledblueracersnake.jpg
A Blue Racer snake (Coluber constrictor foxii)
- Brownchin Racer imported from iNaturalist photo 64866305 on 13 December 2024.jpg
Brownchin Racer imported from iNaturalist photo 64866305 on 13 December 2024
- Black-masked Racer imported from iNaturalist photo 68563789 on 13 December 2024.jpg
Black-masked Racer imported from iNaturalist photo 68563789 on 13 December 2024
- Coluber constrictor ssp. oaxaca.jpg
Coluber constrictor ssp. oaxaca
References
- ↑ Stejneger L, Barbour T (1917). A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (Coluber constrictor, p. 79)
- ↑ "Coluber constrictor ". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
- ↑ Hastings, Angie. "Coluber constrictor (Eastern Racer)". Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved 2020-09-16.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "The College of Natural Sciences (CNS) at UMass Amherst". The College of Natural Sciences (CNS) at UMass Amherst. Retrieved 2020-09-18.