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 11/10/2009)
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: $56.00 (as of 11/09/2009)
Black Racer YouTube Video
Samantha the Black Racer
The Adventures of Samantha The Black Racer Snake
Amazon Price: $18.00 (as of 11/10/2009)
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Black Racer Blog Posts
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- Identifying the Black Racer Snake of North America
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Race off a Comment!
beachbum_gabby wrote...
awesome lens but still afraid to all kinds of snakes ^__^
Posted August 19, 2009
AbbasAbedi wrote...
Excellent Lens. 5*
If you get a chance check out my Instant Stress Management lens.
Posted June 05, 2009
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