The southern black racer (''Coluber constrictor priapus'') is one of the more common

subspecies In Taxonomy (biology), biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (Morphology (biology), morpholog ...

of the nonvenomous ''

Coluber constrictor The eastern racer, or North American racer (''Coluber constrictor''), is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to North America and Central America. Eleven subspecies, including the nominotypical subspeci ...

snake Snakes are elongated limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales much like other members of the group. Many species of snakes have s ...

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of the

Southeastern United States The Southeastern United States, also known as the American Southeast or simply the Southeast, is a geographical List of regions in the United States, region of the United States located in the eastern portion of the Southern United States and t ...

. The subspecific name ''priapus'' refers to the proximal spines of the

hemipenes A hemipenis (: hemipenes) is one of a pair of intromittent organs of male squamates (snakes and lizards). Hemipenes are usually held inverted within the body, and are everted for reproduction via erectile tissue, much like that in the human peni ...

being much enlarged into basal hooks, which is characteristic of this subspecies. These snakes are quite active during the day, which increases the chance of sightings. They eat almost any animal they can overpower, including

rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...

frog A frog is any member of a diverse and largely semiaquatic group of short-bodied, tailless amphibian vertebrates composing the order (biology), order Anura (coming from the Ancient Greek , literally 'without tail'). Frog species with rough ski ...

toad Toad (also known as a hoptoad) is a common name for certain frogs, especially of the family Bufonidae, that are characterized by dry, leathery skin, short legs, and large bumps covering the parotoid glands. In popular culture (folk taxonomy ...

s, and

lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...

s. 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 Musk is a class of aromatic substances commonly used as base notes in perfumery. They include glandular secretions from animals such as the musk deer, numerous plants emitting similar fragrances, and artificial substances with similar odors. ' ...

, a common defense against predators in snakes. Adults of the species are usually thin with a jet-black dorsal side with a grey belly and white chin. They are quite fast, giving them the name "racer".

Description

Typical size for this snake is , and the record is . The southern black racer has a white chin, whereas an

indigo snake ''Drymarchon'' is a genus of large non-venomous colubrid snakes, commonly known as indigo snakes or cribos, found in the Southeastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Description Indigo snakes are large, robust snakes. ...

normally has a dark to reddish-orange chin.

Diet

The southern black racer is a

predator Predation is a biological interaction in which one organism, the predator, kills and eats another organism, its prey. It is one of a family of common List of feeding behaviours, feeding behaviours that includes parasitism and micropredation ...

that relies on lizards, insects, moles, birds, eggs, small snakes, rodents, and frogs. 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.

Mortality

Humans remain the greatest threat to black racers. Many are killed on highways and others are intentionally killed out of fear. The southern black racer can be mistaken for a

cottonmouth ''Agkistrodon piscivorus'' is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. It is one of the world's few semiaquatic vipers (along with the Florida cottonmouth), and is native to the Southeaster ...

– a venomous snake more commonly called a water moccasin. The venomous snake has a white lining inside of its mouth. Racers are nonvenomous and do not breed with cottonmouths. Natural enemies include such birds of prey as

hawk Hawks are birds of prey of the family Accipitridae. They are very widely distributed and are found on all continents, except Antarctica. The subfamily Accipitrinae includes goshawks, sparrowhawks, sharp-shinned hawks, and others. This ...

s, including the

red-shouldered hawk The red-shouldered hawk (''Buteo lineatus'') is a medium-sized buteo. Its breeding range spans eastern North America and along the coast of California and northern to northeastern-central Mexico. It is a permanent resident throughout most of its ...

and

broad-winged hawk The broad-winged hawk (''Buteo platypterus'') is a medium-sized hawk of the genus '' Buteo''. During the summer, some subspecies are distributed over eastern North America, as far west as British Columbia and Texas; they then migrate south to wi ...

. These perching and soaring birds have keen eyesight and drop down to capture black racers and other snakes in a manner that makes the snake's speed and ground awareness ineffective.

Gallery

File:Blackracer.jpg, Black racers wait for prey in dry leaves and brush. File:Snakeintree.jpeg, Black racers are excellent climbers. File:Snakechair.jpeg, Black racers are not strangers to suburban yards. File:Kanapaha-2008 04 09-IMG 0241.JPG, Black racer with head elevated File:Kanapaha-2008 04 09-IMG 0245.JPG, Black racer File:Snakeracer.jpeg, Like most cold-blooded creatures, the black racer relies on sun and shade to regulate its temperature. File:Darkracer.jpeg, Note the white marking around the mouth. File:Snakeandhose2.jpeg, A black racer examines a green hose. File:Snakeshed2.jpeg, A 24-in shed racer skin File:BkRacer01 Asit.jpg, Stalking a dragonfly File:BkRacer02 Asit.jpg, Resting and waiting for food from a tree File:Coluber constrictor priapus.jpg, Southern black racer at St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park in Indian River County, Florida

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5149504 Colubrids Reptiles of the United States Reptiles described in 1939 Fauna of the Southeastern United States