Black Racer Snake
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Reptile: Blue Runner, Black Runner - Beneficial and Beautiful
Black Racers are very fast, non-poisonous, 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.
Most Racers do not enjoy being handled. Black racers eat mostly mice and rats, so are extremely beneficial snakes to have around.
This page focuses on the Southern Black Racer and its sub-species which are found in Louisiana. The Southern Black Racer occurs in habitats all over Louisiana and through out most of the Southeastern United States.
Contents at a Glance
Welcome to Our Black Racer Page
You'll find many photos and lots of information about Black Racer Snakes in Louisiana. There is also a quiz, so you can test your knowledge of this beneficial and beautiful reptile. Be sure to use the table of contents to easily find what you are looking for. We hope you have a great time while you are here.
Black Racer Quiz
How much do you know about snakes in general and Racers in particular? Well, now's your chance to show what you know. You can take the quiz now or take it after you read up a bit... the choice is yours. Have fun!
Black Racers
are often called Black Runners & also Blue Racers because of the blue tinge of their scales. There are many common names for & subspecies of Coluber constrictor and also one species called the Blue Runner which does not live in Louisiana. Racers move very quickly and can be out of sight in the blink of an eye.
Coluber constrictor
Louisiana Subspecies
There are five subspecies of Black Racers that occur in Louisiana. They are:
~ The Southern Black Racer, Coluber constrictor priapus which is characterized by a black dorsum and slate gray or black venter;
~ The Black-masked racer, Coluber constrictor latrunculus, characterized by a slate gray dorsum, a bluish gray venter and a broad black stripe behind the eye;
~ The Eastern yellow-bellied racer, Coluber constrictor flaviventris characterized by an olive green dorsum and a light yellow venter;
~ The Tan racer, Coluber constrictor etheridgei, characterized by a light tan dorsum with some light spotting and a grayish white venter; and
~ The Buttermilk racer, Coluber constrictor anthicus, characterized by a blue, blue-black or blue-green dorsum with a variable amount of light spotting and a grayish white venter.
Despite their Latin name, Racers are NOT constrictors. They hunt prey, with their head held high, when it is spotted, they race towards it, seize it and then swallow it alive. They may chew on larger prey until they stop struggling.
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 of Louisiana
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
Black Racer Poll
Adult Black Racer in Early Spring
The photo was taken early in the spring, when the weather was still cool. This Black Racer was still a little sluggish and is trying to warm its body in the sun. In Louisiana they appear in late February or early March, depending on how hard the winter was.
Since black racers are normally so fast, early spring, when they are sluggish, is a good time to photograph them.
Hunting for Food

Black Racer Hunting by naturegirl7
Black Racers hunt down their prey. They move quickly along the forest floor, with their head held high, always alert. When prey is detected, Racers quickly grab it and swallow it whole, sometimes while it is still alive.
The "constrictor" in their scientific name is a misnomer. I suppose, it was once thought that they squeezed their prey, but now scientists know that they don't. However, the name sticks.
North American Racer Snake
Young Black Racer Showing Blue Flecks
Bluish Black Racer by naturegirl7
Notice the hint of blue where the sun is hitting the scales of this young Black Racer. This is why some people in Louisiana call them Blue Runners.
There is also a species of Racer which inhabits other parts of the United States which is called the Blue Racer. Common names can be deceiving, with different species being given the same common name or with the same species being called different common names in separate locations.
Black Racer in Kinked Posture

Black Racer Kinked Posture by naturegirl7
The odd looking "kinked" posture of this individual is often seen. Some believe that this is a defense mechanism. They look a lot like a fallen branch.
Another defensive reaction is that when threatened, if running away is not successful, they will hide in the brush and rattle their tails in dry leaves, sounding much like a rattlesnake.
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. As they age, they darken into adult coloration.

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
Black Racer in Fall

Black Racer Sunning by naturegirl7
Fall weather does not come to Louisiana until October. During September, when this photo was taken, Black Racers and other snakes are still active.
I came across this one coiled in the weeds in a sunny spot not too far from a hummingbird feeder which was being used by many migrating hummingbirds. Hummingbirds battle over feeders and sometimes knock each other to the ground, so I believe this Racer had positioned itself to take advantage of this.
After its photo op, I chased it away from the feeder. Hopefully it found a more substantial meal like a rat or a mouse.
Samantha the Black Racer
Black Racer Sensing Our Presence
New Encyclopedia of Snakes
The New Encyclopedia of Snakes
Amazon Price: $23.09 (as of 02/13/2012)![]()
Nice illustrations and accurate information.
Best of Naturally Native Photos Blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySnakes Are Hunters
Snakes Are Hunters
Did you know there are over 3,000 kinds of snakes in the world? There are garter snakes, water snakes, rattlesnakes, and boa constrictors. Some are very, very big and some are tiny. Some glide over the ground, some climb trees, some even swim. But there is one thing they all have in common: snakes are hunters. A Reading Rainbow selection.
Northern Black Racer
Photo by almedic104 at Zazzle

Northern Black Racer by almedic104
The Northern Black Racer, Coluber constrictor constrictor occurs in the upper most parts of the southeastern U.S. The Southern Black Racer, Coluber constrictor priapus, inhabits most of Louisiana.

Snakes 2011 Wall Calendar
Price: 13.99
The serpent is a reoccurring figure in religious myths and legends. Snakes are handled as both a gesture of faith in the power of gods as well as an act of defiance to that same power. The snakes in this wall calendar show the variety and beauty of this amazing reptile.
Snakes of Eastern and Central North America
Guide and Reference to the Snakes of Eastern and Central North America (North of Mexico)
"Photographic expertise, coupled with the extensive field experiences of the authors, makes this book a significant contribution to popular and semi-popular herpetological literature." -Jim Harding, Michigan State University This volume provides an up-to-date guide to the identification, range, habitat, and status of snakes found within eastern and central North America, from west Texas, to western Manitoba, to the eastern seaboard. Species accounts are grouped by family (Blind Snakes, File Snakes, Boas and Pythons, Colubrid Snakes, and two families of venomous snakes) and illustrated with 251 color photos showing species, subspecies and most natural intergrades and color phases. The descriptive text combines details of appearance, naturally occurring color morphs, behavior, range/habitat, prey, and look-alikes with the authors' personal field observations. Enhancing the text are 98 distribution maps. For ease of use, photos, range maps, and descriptive text are presented
Other Louisiana Snake Lenses
Venomous Louisiana Snakes
Black Racer poster
Nature at Its Best Blog
at Crabbysbeach.com
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byLizards and Crocodilians of the Southeast
Race off a Comment!
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jadehorseshoe
Dec 23, 2011 @ 11:42 pm | delete
- ANOTHER Nifty Lens!
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TopToysForKids
Dec 14, 2011 @ 3:24 pm | delete
- I love the yellow one....it looks all chill....=) I'll have to come by again when I have some more time...
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RinchenChodron
Sep 19, 2011 @ 9:42 pm | delete
- Wow - interesting - nice job - very educational - great photos!
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bejeezers Sep 12, 2011 @ 9:24 am | delete
- Amazing snake - amazing lense - will be sure to visit again.
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CDT
Aug 14, 2011 @ 11:00 am | delete
- You've got some amazing photos here - I'm from the UK so I've never seen a Black Racer! I think snakes are interesting and beautiful creatures but we have very few indigenous snakes here so the only ones I ever get to see are in pet shops or zoos :( A really interesting and informative lens - blessed by this Squid Angel as part of the "Back To School Bus Trip"!
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Black Racer Blog Posts
- Celebrity Birthdays, February 12
- Christina Ricci's days as Wednesday on Addams Family Values are long gone, and now she's playing more mature roles on films like Black Snake Moan, Monster and Speed Racer. She also currently stars on ABC's nostalgic drama Pan Am. Ricci can next be seen ...
- Witnessing snake devour treefrog brings home realities of nature
- Outside the door, a tiny young black racer snake had its mouth clenched around a green treefrog that was about 4 inches long. The snake, thinner than a pencil and less than a foot long, had a firm grasp on the frog's rear end. Despite the fact that all ...
- 'Big Daddy' Don Garlits on racing, fatherhood and the tough road ahead
- For $1.50 ? admission for two, plus a racing fee ? he entered the Ford and won his class. "Pat really liked it," he said. "It was a family deal, not all black leather jackets." In his office, Garlits pulls out the trophy he won that day.
- Global Game Jam – Wollongong 2012
- That's called the Ouroboros, an ancient Greek symbol of a snake eating itself, representing the cycle of life, death and rebirth. The best part is nobody was told what the image means, meaning some will get it and some won't, providing endless ...
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