North American Racer

Other Names: Racer, Yellow-bellied Racer, Blue or Green Racer
Scientific Name: Coluber constrictor
Family: Colubridae

Description & Size

• Legless
• No eyelids
• Lacks external ears
• Scales on the back are smooth
• Relatively large eyes
• Divided anal scale
• Total length: 51.0-190.0 cm (20.1-74.8 in)
• Back color: olive green to greenish blue
• Belly color: yellow to white
• Juveniles: strongly patterned with dark horizontal strips along the back

Life History

• Diurnal
• Active season: Early April – September (Rosen, 1991)
• Breeding season: Early April – early November
• Lays eggs
• 2-31 eggs per female

Habitat

• Grasslands
• Agricultural fields
• Open woodlands
• Human dwellings

Diet

• Insects
• Reptiles
• Small mammals
• Birds
• Bird eggs
• Amphibians