Blue Runner, Black Runner - Beneficial and Beautiful
Black Racers are very fast black snakes with a bluish cast to their scales. Other names for this handsome, non-venomous snake are Blue Racer, Blue Runner and Black Runner. The Southern Black Racer occurs in habitats all over Louisiana and through most of the Southeast. Most Racers do not enjoy being handled. Black racers eat mostly mice and rats, so are extremely beneficial snakes to have around.
Black Racers
are often called Blue Runners or Blue Racers because of the blue tinge of their scales. They move very quickly and can be out of sight in the blink of an eye.
Coluber constrictor Linnaeus
There are five subspecies of Black Racers that occur in Louisiana. They are: the Southern Black Racer which is characterized by a black dorsum and slate gray or black venter; the black-masked racer, characterized by a slate gray dorsum, a bluish gray venter and a broad black stripe behind the eye; the eastern yellow-bellied racer, characterized by an olive green dorsum and a light yellow venter; the tan racer, characterized by a light tan dorsum with some light spotting and a grayish white venter; and the buttermilk racer, characterized by a blue, blue-black or blue-green dorsum with a variable amount of light spotting and a grayish white venter.
Racers are constrictors that kill their prey by wrapping around it until it is dead and then swallowing it whole.
Racers lay clutches of 6 to 18 granular white eggs from June through September in such places as soft moist soil beside decaying logs, in decaying wood pulp or in depressions in clumps of grass. The hatchlings don't look like the adults and have light-colored bodies with dark blotches along the back and sides.
(reference: Dundee, Harold A. and Douglas A. Rossman, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana)
Racer Subspecies
A. Southern black racer, Coluber constrictor priapus
B. Black-masked Racer, Coluber constrictor latrunculus
C. Eastern yellow-bellied racer, Coluber constrictor flaviventris
D. Tan racer, Coluber constrictor etheridgei
E. Buttermilk racer, Coluber constrictor anthicus
F. Juvenile racer, Coluber constrictor
*
*photo reference: Dundee, Harold A. and Douglas A. Rossman, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana
Adult Black Racer
The photo was taken early in the spring, when the weather was still cool. This Black Racer is still a little sluggish and is trying to warm its body in the sun.
Snakes of the Southeast
Snakes Of The Southeast (Wormsloe Foundation Nature Book)
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/05/2009)
This is a wonderful book with good information and great pictures. Every snake lover from the southeastern United Snakes should have this book in their personal library.
Young Black Racer
Notice the hint of blue where the sun is hitting the scales of this young Black Racer. This is why one of the common names of the species is Blue Runner.
Southern Black Racer Facts
The Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) is one of the more common subspecies of non-venomous snakes in the Southeastern United States. These snakes are quite active during the day, which increases the chance of sightings. They will eat almost any animal they can overpower, including, rodents, frogs, toads, and lizards. They have been known to charge at people in an attempt to frighten them, but will usually retreat ? if challenged. Members of this species generally do not tolerate handling ? even after months in captivity ? and will typically strike and flail wildly every time they are handled. These snakes are usually thin with a jet black dorsal side with a grey belly and white chin. They are quite fast, giving rise to the name "racer".
Baby Black Racers
Very young black racers are marked differently from the adult of the species. The young are speckled with black, white and tan spots.
Buy Young Black Racer by naturegirl7
Black Racers also have a reputation for biting when they are caught. It seems that they develop this defense mechanism very early in life as you can see by the picture below. We happily released the little bugger after the brief photo op.
Snakes of the U.S. and Canada
Snakes of the United States and Canada
Amazon Price: $60.67 (as of 07/05/2009)
Black Racer YouTube Video
Herping with Dylan: Blue Racer
A Blue Racer I managed to corner in a tree.
Runtime: 1:23
6019 views
10 Comments:
Samantha the Black Racer
The Adventures of Samantha The Black Racer Snake
Amazon Price: $18.00 (as of 07/05/2009)
Black Racer Sensing Our Presence
Best of Naturally Native Squids Blog RSS Feed
Features outstanding lenses about nature, animals, native plants, gardening (especially ecologically healthy gardening), green living and all things natural
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byBlack Racer Photos
I came across this fellow on a walk through a meadow in Cape May, New Jersey thi...
a lifer for me, i've always found black rat snakes, this is my first racer, colu...
"The racer is the only large, black snake in New England with smooth sc...
Southern Black Racer Snake
I came upon this Black Racer snake at the Loxahatchee Nat. Wildlife Refuge.
Photo by Dotty Motta Black Racer Coluber constrictor
Other Louisiana Snake Lenses
-
Kingsnakes of Louisiana
-
Since we were children we have welcomed the gentle, non-poisonous Kingsnakes into our yard. Kingsnakes are constrictors that live in many types of habitat, but seem to prefer ridges and levees that border wet areas. They will kill and eat poisonous...
-
Diamond-back Water Snake
-
The Diamond-back (or backed) Water Snake is a long, heavy-bodied, tan to gray-brown snake with a pattern of dark brown to black chain-like markings. The belly is yellow, but with dusky brown markings. As the name implies it lives in slow moving water...
-
Snakes of Louisiana
-
Snakes are probably one of the most controversial animals. You either love them or hate them. Snakes are a very important link in the food chain and without them our earth would be overrun with vermin and harmful insects. Here in Louisiana there are...
-
Ribbon and Garter Snakes
-
Garter and Ribbon snakes are beneficial, non-poisonous snakes. Garter Snakes are welcomed into gardens because they eat small rodents, snails, slugs and harmful insects among other things. There are several different species that inhabit Louisiana. M...
-
Cottonmouth Moccasin Snake
-
The Cottonmouth (which used to be called Cottonmouth Moccasin or Water Moccasin) is a venomous semi-aquatic snake. It is one of the five species of pit viper that inhabits Louisiana. It is also the only semi-aquatic viper in the world. The name, Cott...
-
Ring-necked Snake of Louisiana
-
The Ring-necked Snake is a small, harmless snake that lives in forested areas all over the Southeastern United States. It spends most of the daylight hours hiding under logs, but is active at night during the warm months of the year. Ring-necked Sna...
-
Broad-banded Watersnake of Louisiana
-
The Broad-banded is the only species of Banded Watersnake that lives in Louisiana. They are found in bodies of water all over Louisiana and the Southeastern United States. Unfortunately, these stout non-poisonous watersnakes with colorful bellies, a...
-
Hognose Snake in Louisiana
-
The Eastern Hognose Snake is a most unusual reptile with some very unique defense mechanisms, including puffing up like a cobra and playing dead. Although it is considered non-poisonous, in that it does not have fangs, it's saliva sometimes causes a...
-
Yellow-bellied Water Snakes
-
Plain-bellied Water snakes are found in every southeastern state in the U.S. They are stout snakes with dark brown, gray or greenish gray backs and bellies that range in color from yellow to red. In Louisiana, the Yellow-bellied and blotched water s...
-
Rat Snakes in Louisiana
-
Rat Snakes are attractively marked, non-poisonous constrictors which primarily eat rats and mice and some birds and eggs. They are known for their climbing ability and their great length which can be up to 101 inches. In the south they are called Ch...
-
Rough Green Snake
-
The Rough Green Snake is the only type of Green Snake that inhabits Louisiana. It is a slim, medium sized, non-poisonous snake, which is bright green in color. Rough Green snakes are egg layers and are excellent climbers.
Black Racer poster
Black Racer Blog Posts
- Heather of the Hills: "Local couple saves wild snake"
- I've never heard of a Pine Snake before, but I just googled it and they look pretty doggone big! Larger than this Black Racer we had, for sure! The very last close-up photo is just a crop down of the one above it. ...
- Of Running and Parenting: Woman Vs. Wild
- It was probably just a harmless black snake. Right?? My mom once told me of a snake she called a "black racer" that chased her as a child. Maybe that's a "rural legend" (as opposed to an urban legend since she grew up in the country), ...
- Felis pushkini: The Haunt of the Black Rat Snake
- 1) Ignorant people who just don't understand and who would maim or kill any snake, non-poisonous or poisonous. The black rat snake is non-poisonous, but you still don't want to upset one. (I've seen a couple of much smaller snakes, ...
- Black Racer on Flickr - Photo Sharing!
- Note the much heavier, square-edged body of the rat snake. Visitor--Black Rat Snake by cotinis. The rat snake typically has white on much of the underside--the racer typically only white under the chin. (I think there is an error in ...
Race off a Comment!
AbbasAbedi wrote...
Excellent Lens. 5*
If you get a chance check out my Instant Stress Management lens.
Posted June 05, 2009
by naturegirl7
My husband and I have always loved nature and the outdoors. We currently maintain a 9 acre private wildlife preserve and are Master Gardeners and offi... (more) 
