Despite their scientific name of constrictor, they do not really employ constriction, instead simply subduing struggling prey by pinning it bodily, pressing one or two coils against it to hold it in place instead of actually suffocating it. Juveniles often consume soft-bodied insects, such as crickets and moths. Their diet consists primarily of rodents, frogs, and lizards, and some subspecies are known to climb trees in order to eat eggs and young birds. Racers are fast moving, highly active, diurnal snakes. The pattern fades out to a solid color as the snake ages. Juveniles are often more strikingly patterned, with light grey or tan overall color, with green, grey and black blotching. All subspecies have a lighter colored underbelly: white, a light tan or yellow in color. Most are solid colored as their common names imply, black, brown or green. Their patterns vary widely between subspecies.

Racers typically grow to around 3½ feet (107 cm) long, but some subspecies are capable of attaining lengths of 6 feet (1.8 m). There are currently 10 recognized subspecies. They are primarily found throughout the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains, but they range north into Canada, and south into Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Author Patrick Coin ( )īascanion constrictor Baird & Girard, 1853Ĭoryphodon Constrictor Dum?ril & Bibron, 1854Ĭoluber constrictor is a species of non-venomous, colubrid snakes commonly referred to as the eastern racers. Location: Durham County, North Carolina, United States.Photograph taken by Patrick Coin. Northern Black Racer, Coluber constrictor constrictor, detail of head as snake was 'periscoping' near a sidewalk. Eastern Racer ( Coluber constrictor) - Wiki

Coluber constrictor foxii pet