It also will strike and bite when threatened. Unlike the checkerboard pattern found on the ventral side of the eastern ratsnake, the venter of the northern black racer is a solid dark gray that changes to a light gray under the tail. However, a vast majority of the baby snakes you are most likely to encounter are harmless and quite beneficial. Field marks. Now, we have a greyish Southern Black Racer about 40 inches long living on and under a concrete slab that used to house a chicken pen. Juvenile Northern Black Racer. The baby Black Racer mostly survives by … Maine's lone endangered snake, the black racer or coluber constrictor, matures at up to 6 feet long. The northern black racer is a large snake with a solid black body and a blue-gray belly. Two subspecies are currently recognized: the Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) (Linnaeus) and the Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus).

Energetic tail vibrations in leaf litter can sound like a rattlesnake. By J.D. They have smooth scales, large eyes, and often have some white coloration under their chin. Dunn and Wood (1939) suggested that Philadelphia was the type locality. Many Montgomery County residents confuse this species with the black rat snake because the body structure and color looks a lot alike. Coluber constrictor.

Color is a common name applied to many of the species as well as the Black Racer. The southern black racer is a subspecies of the Coluber constrictor that can be found throughout much of the southeastern United States. Only the nominate subspecies occurs in Virginia. Kleopfer.

Found all over the state, in many habitats, the black racer eats small mammals, insect and other snakes, including his own young. The adult snakes do not feed their babies nor protect them. These snakes can be 33 to 65 inches long. I found a lethargic Northern Water Snake about 20 feet uphill from a creek in a wilderness area about 30 miles from our Kentucky farm on April 4. Former Name: Northern Black Racer: Eastern Pinesnake (Pituophis melanoleucus) - Historic Photo courtesy of Scott A. Smith Former Name: Northern Pinesnake: Red Cornsnake (Pantherophis guttatus) Photo courtesy of Linh Phu Eastern Ratsnake (Pantherophis alleghaniensis) Photo courtesy of John White Northern Mole Kingsnake (Lampropeltis rhombomaculata) Willson unless otherwise noted .

Baby Black Racer Life Cycle. The blue racer – may be a gunmetal gray with a distinct greenish or bluish cast – frequents western Ohio. Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) Photos by J.D. It’s that time of the year when eggs laid back in the spring have hatched and live-bearing snakes, which includes Eastern Copperheads, have given birth.