Northern Black Racer
(Coluber
constrictor constrictor) |
 |
DESCRIPTION: Adults average 23 to 50 inches
in length, while young are about 15 inches long. Coloration and
geographic range separate the two subspecies that occur in
Indiana. The Southern Black Racer, C. c. priapus, is uniformly
black in color above and below with a pale white chin, while the
Blue Racer, C. c. foxii, is uniformly bluish gray, turquoise or
olive in color with a white to yellow-white chin.
STATUS:
RANGE: Distributed west of the
Blue Ridge Mountains. Except for parts of the American
southwest, the species is widely distributed in North America
south of Canada into Mexico.
HABITAT:
SPECIAL HABITAT:
FOOD: The northern black racer
is a carnivore and has been documented to eat butterfly and moth
larvae, frogs, skinks, small birds, chipmunks, northern flying
squirrels, mice and many other species. Invertebrates are most
often found in juveniles, and rodents and reptiles are primary
prey of adults. The northern black racer does not constrict, as
the scientific name implies, but pins its prey with body loops
and swallows it alive. |
