![]() ![]() ![]() “Coluber constrictor” (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. “Black Mamba: The World’s Fastest Snake Also Has a Fast Strike” (On-line), Reptile Knowledge. ![]() Thank you to the following sources for their information on this topic:Ĭornett, B. Eggs will hatch in the fall, just with enough time for them to grow large enough to survive the winter hibernation in burrows similar to the ones they were laid in. This is done often in the same burrow with other black racers or other snake species in late April- early June. Like mentioned previously, after laying their eggs, adult black racers leave the hatchlings alone to raise themselves however, they ensure survival by laying their eggs in other animals’ burrows. Reproductive age occurs in black racers at 2-3 years, depending on gender. In fact, the black racer won’t get its full set of black scales until it reaches 30 inches in length, often around reproductive age. With a clutch-size of 20 and limited parental care, this adaptation allows the hatchlings a chance to trick predators into thinking they are venous and should be left alone. Instead of being hatched with all black scales, the hatchlings will have variations of red, grey and yellow spots covering their back. The black racer also uses mimicry through the young’s coloration. This process will often send predators running although, if necessary, a black racer can bite and draw blood. Hobbyists rarely adopt this snake as a pet. Besides birds, it eats lizards, insects, frogs and rodents. This snake is good at climbing and many a times it climbs the top of trees hunting for birds. The black racer will coil up like a venomous snake, “rattle” its tail, and show its fangs, despite having absolutely no venom. The Black Racer or Black Snake is a non-venomous snake hailing from the eastern provinces of the United States. It does so through a process called mimicry. In fact, the black racer in a ”fight or flight” situation will most likely fight rather than run away. The black mamba can reach speeds up to 12 mph, while the black racer can only reach 4 mph, the same speed as a human’s brisk walk. The current fastest snake is the black mamba ( Dendroaspis polyepis ) found in Africa. Black racers are commonly mixed up with black rat snakes ( Pantherophis obsoletus ) and after a misidentification in 1758, black racers were labeled with the specific epithet “constrictor ” despite not being a snake that constricts its prey!Īnother misleading thing about the black racer’s name is that it is not the fastest snake. Once an adult, the black racer develops its smooth black scales and often a charismatic white/gray chin. Maines longest snake, adults approximately 36 to 76 inches in length Slender, glossy black above with smooth scales Underside is light bluish-gray, with a. The black racer lives in the eastern portion of the state, in habitats with rocky ledges, pastures, fields, and woodlands. The blue racer is a gun metal gray, with a greenish cast. The black racer ( Coluber constrictor ) is a non-venomous snake found all over North and South America’s east coast. The black racer is black with no markings. The photograph was taken by UGA Warnell student Victoria Hall ![]()
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