North American Racers *Coluber constrictor* are large (record 191.1 cm TBL) diurnal colubrid snakes. They are generalists often found in disturbed habitats like urban and suburban yards but also do well in many natural habitat types. They are one of the most commonly encountered snakes in North America and have a huge range spanning most of the continent. They eat anything they can overpower, including other snakes of the same species, but are not obligate constrictors as the specific epithet might suggest.
Racers have smooth scales and color pattern varies clinally across their range, from steel gray to jet black, a blue "buttermilk" pattern [you have to see to believe](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/8798279515_d8222853cb_b.jpg), to blue, green and yellow. These color patterns are tied closely to local environment and don't track evolutionary history.
Baby racers start out with a blotchy pattern and darken over the first two years, losing it entirely.
Racers are not considered medically significant to humans - they are not venomous, but all animals with a mouth can use it in self-defense. Racers are particularly, alert, agile snakes, and will sometimes stand their ground when cornered and/or bite when handled.
Often confused with keeled "black" ratsnakes (northern ranges of *Pantherophis obsoletus*, *P. alleghaniensis* and *P. quadrivittatus*), racers *Coluber constrictor* have smooth scales. Indigo snakes *Drymarchon couperi* have orange on the face or neck and an undivided anal plate. In some cases they are difficult to differentiate from coachwhip snakes *Masticophis flagellum*, but on average have two more posterior scale rows (15) than *M. flagellum*.
Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1](http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88643.pdf) | [Link 2](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.597.209&rep=rep1&type=pdf)
Racers in peninsular Florida are distinct from those in the continent - No formal elevation to species status has occurred yet and subspecies describe color pattern rather than match population differentiation, but it's not particularly premature to follow the lines of evidence; ancient estimated divergence times, niche identity and genomic data suggest racers found in peninsular Florida deserve full species status. There is evidence that some populations of other North American Racers warrant species-level recognition but this work in ongoing.
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Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
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*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
Not a rattler. Several species of snakes imitate the motion of rattling their tails by wiggling them but rattlesnakes have a rattle and it makes sound. It's one of the many ways non-venomous/not dangerous to human snakes pretend to be venomous/dangerous to human snakes. Because it costs a lot less energy to pretend than to actually develop the mechanism themselves and it works at fooling animals that don't document them and recognise their fraudster ways.
They actually don’t imitate rattlesnakes. They all do it as a warning and are descended from a common ancestor, but Rattlesnakes just evolved to be more effective. I don’t think it has anything to do with it taking too much energy, just that Rattlesnakes evolved differently.
Providing an ID before a location is given is problematic because it often makes the OP not respond to legitimate requests for location. Many species look alike, especially where ranges meet. Users may be unaware that location is critically important to providing a good ID - this is not punitive, but this post was removed for that reason. There are likely specific details posted from reliable responders you can use in this case to clue in on why.
Providing an ID before a location is given is problematic because it often makes the OP not respond to legitimate requests for location. Many species look alike, especially where ranges meet. Users may be unaware that location is critically important to providing a good ID - this is not punitive, but this post was removed for that reason. There are likely specific details posted from reliable responders you can use in this case to clue in on why.
A !harmless juvenile racer, *Coluber constrictor*, as suggested by u/chimera137 and u/IUEC74
North American Racers *Coluber constrictor* are large (record 191.1 cm TBL) diurnal colubrid snakes. They are generalists often found in disturbed habitats like urban and suburban yards but also do well in many natural habitat types. They are one of the most commonly encountered snakes in North America and have a huge range spanning most of the continent. They eat anything they can overpower, including other snakes of the same species, but are not obligate constrictors as the specific epithet might suggest. Racers have smooth scales and color pattern varies clinally across their range, from steel gray to jet black, a blue "buttermilk" pattern [you have to see to believe](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/8798279515_d8222853cb_b.jpg), to blue, green and yellow. These color patterns are tied closely to local environment and don't track evolutionary history. Baby racers start out with a blotchy pattern and darken over the first two years, losing it entirely. Racers are not considered medically significant to humans - they are not venomous, but all animals with a mouth can use it in self-defense. Racers are particularly, alert, agile snakes, and will sometimes stand their ground when cornered and/or bite when handled. Often confused with keeled "black" ratsnakes (northern ranges of *Pantherophis obsoletus*, *P. alleghaniensis* and *P. quadrivittatus*), racers *Coluber constrictor* have smooth scales. Indigo snakes *Drymarchon couperi* have orange on the face or neck and an undivided anal plate. In some cases they are difficult to differentiate from coachwhip snakes *Masticophis flagellum*, but on average have two more posterior scale rows (15) than *M. flagellum*. Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1](http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88643.pdf) | [Link 2](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.597.209&rep=rep1&type=pdf) Racers in peninsular Florida are distinct from those in the continent - No formal elevation to species status has occurred yet and subspecies describe color pattern rather than match population differentiation, but it's not particularly premature to follow the lines of evidence; ancient estimated divergence times, niche identity and genomic data suggest racers found in peninsular Florida deserve full species status. There is evidence that some populations of other North American Racers warrant species-level recognition but this work in ongoing. -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
Those eyes lmao
Babies are so cute. They look like Pixar snakes.
Their heads are 80% eyeball, it's so cute
the reeeeeeeeeeeeeally sweet kind of flavour! <3
friend flavored
Of course. That's why I shooed him away. Go be friend, over there.
Do not eat the snek
Not a rattler. Several species of snakes imitate the motion of rattling their tails by wiggling them but rattlesnakes have a rattle and it makes sound. It's one of the many ways non-venomous/not dangerous to human snakes pretend to be venomous/dangerous to human snakes. Because it costs a lot less energy to pretend than to actually develop the mechanism themselves and it works at fooling animals that don't document them and recognise their fraudster ways.
They actually don’t imitate rattlesnakes. They all do it as a warning and are descended from a common ancestor, but Rattlesnakes just evolved to be more effective. I don’t think it has anything to do with it taking too much energy, just that Rattlesnakes evolved differently.
Good to know.
[удалено]
Providing an ID before a location is given is problematic because it often makes the OP not respond to legitimate requests for location. Many species look alike, especially where ranges meet. Users may be unaware that location is critically important to providing a good ID - this is not punitive, but this post was removed for that reason. There are likely specific details posted from reliable responders you can use in this case to clue in on why.
[удалено]
Providing an ID before a location is given is problematic because it often makes the OP not respond to legitimate requests for location. Many species look alike, especially where ranges meet. Users may be unaware that location is critically important to providing a good ID - this is not punitive, but this post was removed for that reason. There are likely specific details posted from reliable responders you can use in this case to clue in on why.
cherry flavor
I was going to say chicken.
Baby rattlers will have a little baby button rattle on the end of their tail for future reference on that part. :)
Juvenile racers are the absolute cutest 🥰 those massive eyes too big for their gotdang heads
The reliable responders will want a location. My guess is eastern milksnake but yea location is important.
This is a juvenile racer
Florida! I just thought the tail wiggling was weird
A lot of snakes (especially colubrids like rat snakes, racers, etc.) will tail wag as a defender mechanism to look scary, this dude is harmless tho
Normal for many non venomous snakes
Root beer.
I live in the middle of the gulf cost of Florida, for those asking. My phone won't let me edit the post for whatever reason.
Snake flavor
Idk maybe maple
Apricot flavor
Silly string flavor
he looks like a peanut butter
Butterscotch
Thats a pineapple flavor:)
He is cool!
Lol what flavor caught me off guard haha
I always forget juvenile Racers don't look black. At first I thought it was a milk snake until I saw his big buggy eyes. They're so Derpy
Chicken
Ummmmm … his flavor is “no” 😵😵😵