North American racer
(Coluber constrictor)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5 - Secure S3 - Vulnerable |
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| Minnesota | Special Concern Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
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Description |
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Adults are usually 20″ to 60″ (50 to 152 cm) in length, sometimes longer. The upper (dorsal) surface is slate blue, bluish-black, greenish, or light brown. The throat is yellow or white grading into an unmarked white, light gray, light tan, or yellow belly. Juveniles are gray above with numerous scattered black or dark reddish-brown spots. The underside is white and is also spotted. |
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Size |
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20″ to 60″ (50 to 152 cm) |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Dry prairies, bluff prairies, woodland edges, and field edges. |
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Biology |
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Behavior |
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Lifespan |
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10 years |
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Life Cycle |
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Food |
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Rodents, frogs, toads, lizards, birds, bird eggs, insects: any living animal it can catch and swallow. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 8/15/2022 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Reptilia (reptiles) | ||
| Superorder | Lepidosauria | ||
| Order | Squamata (snakes and lizards) | ||
| Suborder | Serpentes (snakes) | ||
| Infraorder | Alethinophidia | ||
| Superfamily | Colubroidea | ||
Family |
Colubridae (colubrid snakes) | ||
Subfamily |
Colubrinae | ||
Genus |
Coluber (North American racers) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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black-masked racer (Coluber constrictor latrunculus) blue racer (Coluber constrictor foxii) brownchin racer (Coluber constrictor helvigularis) buttermilk racer (Coluber constrictor anthicus) eastern yellowbelly racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris) everglades racer (Coluber constrictor paludicola) Mexican racer (Coluber constrictor oaxaca) northern black racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) southern black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) tan racer (Coluber constrictor etheridgei) western yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor mormon) |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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eastern racer North American racer racer |
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Visitor Photos |
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Jeff LeClere |
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juvenile |
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Scott Leddy |
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Blue racer (Coluber constrictor foxii) |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this reptile. |
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Other Videos |
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| Blue Racers Nick Scobel |
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About
Uploaded on Apr 13, 2010 I realized that I had not done a video of this species in Michigan, so here it is, the majestic Blue Racer. |
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| Herping with Dylan: Blue Racer Herping With Dylan |
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About
Uploaded on Oct 5, 2006 A Blue Racer I managed to corner in a tree. |
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| Blue Racer Delana Epperson |
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About
Published on Sep 13, 2014 We think this cutie is a blue racer snake, 09/13/2014 |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this reptile. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Jeff LeClere 1966 |
Location: Wabasha County |
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| Tony Kegler June 2012 |
Location: Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest, Wabasha County, Snake Creek Trail off highway vehicle trail Amazingly bright turquoise blue adult sunning itself on dirt bile trail. I believe it must have recently shed its skin. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Last Updated: