![]() The two subspecies are similar to one another and individuals resembling either subspecies may be found anywhere throughout their Iowa range.Ī North American racer, Coluber constrictor, from Louisa County, Iowa. The blue racer was not recognized recently for a brief period of time and is still not recognized by some taxonomists. The eastern yellow-bellied racer, Coluber constrictor flaviventris and the blue racer, Coluber constrictor foxii are the two subspecies found in Iowa. A North American racer, Coluber constrictor, from Lee County, Iowa. The belly is white with small brown or reddish spots and the tail is uniformly brown and unmarked. The young are much different from adults and have a white or gray ground color with black, brown, or reddish blotches. Racers have smooth scales and divided anal plates. Some specimens from Lee County are velvety black with light bellies. The throat and neck are bright yellow and the chin and upper labials may be yellow or white. The belly is dirty white, porcelain, or yellow with no markings. Adults are uniform gray, blue, bluish black, greenish, or light brown, with no trace of head or dorsal markings. Max 70 inches (177.8 cm Conant and Collins 1998). The North American racer is a large Iowa species measuring between 23-50 inches (58-127 cm) in length. It is illegal to kill or collect this species by law in Iowa. PROTECTED and Species of Greatest Conservation Need. These perching and soaring birds have keen eyesight and drop down from above to capture black racers and other snakes in a manner that makes the snake's speed and ground awareness ineffectual.North American Racer ( Coluber constrictor)īy Jeff LeClere A North American racer, Coluber constrictor, from Louisa County, Iowa. Natural enemies include such birds of prey as hawks, including the red-shouldered hawk and broad-winged hawk. Racers are nonvenomous and do not breed with cottonmouths. The venomous snake has a white lining inside of its mouth. The southern black racer can be mistaken for a cottonmouth – a venomous snake more commonly called a water moccasin. Many are killed on highways and others are intentionally killed out of fear. Humans remain the greatest enemy of black racers. Despite its specific name constrictor (scientific name: Coluber constrictor), the racer is more likely to suffocate or crush its victim into the ground, rather than coiling around it in typical constrictor fashion. ![]() ![]() The southern black racer is a predator that relies on lizards, insects, moles, birds, eggs, small snakes, rodents, and frogs. The southern black racer has a white chin, whereas an indigo snake normally has a dark to reddish-orange chin. Typical size for this snake is 51–142 cm (20–56 in), and the record is 180 cm (72 in). They are quite fast, giving them the name "racer". Adults of the species are usually thin with a jet black dorsal side with a grey belly and white chin. Members of this species generally do not tolerate handling – even after months in captivity – and typically strike and flail wildly every time they are handled, often defecating a foul-smelling musk, a common defense against predators in snakes. They eat almost any animal they can overpower, including rodents, frogs, toads, and lizards. These snakes are quite active during the day, which increases the chance of sightings. The subspecific name priapus refers to the proximal spines of the hemipenes being much enlarged into basal hooks, which is characteristic of this subspecies. The southern black racer ( Coluber constrictor priapus) is one of the more common subspecies of the nonvenomous Coluber constrictor snake species of the Southeastern United States.
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