coluber constrictor foxii snakes of michigan

priapus intergrades in extreme southern Illinois.

flaviventris Say, 1823, Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer found in most of the state, and C. Smith (1961) listed two subspecies in Illinois, C. Nomenclatural History: It was transferred to the genus Basconion by Baird & Girard (1853), which is how Kennicott (1855) and Davis & Rice (1883) listed it. For priapus, Coluber constrictor priapus Dunn & Wood, 1939. Original Name: Coluber constrictor Linnaeus, 1758. For foxii, Basconion foxii Baird & Girard, 1853. Type Specimen: Not designated. For foxii, Holotype. Notes on eastern snakes of the genus Coluber. Smithsonian Inst., Washington, xvi + 172 pp. Catalogue of North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Systema Naturae per Regina tri Naturae secundum Classes, Ordines, Genera, Species, cum Characteribus, Differentiis, Synonymis, Locis. Status: Locally common in some parts of the state.Įtymology: Coluber – (Latin) meaning snake constrictor – constrictus (Latin) meaning ‘drawn together’ f oxii – (New Latin) patronym for Charles Fox (1815-1854) priapus – Priapus (Latin) Roman god of male creative power. Main predators are other snakes and raptors. Previously, there was some controversy about designating the Blue Racers as a distinct subspecies. They are found in various regions of North America. These non-venomous snakes belong to the Colubridae family. Eats a variety of animals, including arthropods, worms, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and small mammals. The Blue Racers are a subspecies of the Coluber constrictor or Eastern Racer Snakes. The young, 20-35 cm TL, hatch in September. Mates in May and June and female lays 10-20 eggs in late June or July.

If cornered, vibrates the tail tip and can be counted on to strike repeatedly. Natural History: Alert and agile, often raises its head above the ground to look around, and reacts to disturbance by moving away quickly. Habitat: A variety of habitats including forests, open areas, and edges of forests near open fields. Hatchling and juvenile up to about 80 cm TL, blue-gray with 55-85 reddish brown blotches on back that become less distinct toward tail, and small dark spots along sides and belly. Throat distinctly lighter (yellow in northwest, white elsewhere). Phillipsĭescription: Adult long (up to 150 cm TL) and slender with shiny, uniformly blue, blue-green, or black back. Check it out background big and see a lot more cool shots from out and about in their slideshow.Juvenile North American racer, Perry County, Illinois. You can also watch a cool video of a BIG blue racer by the Saline Snake Guy.ĭ charvat writes that they saw this good-sized blue racer while hiking in the Middleville MI state game area. The Coluber constrictor Eastern Racer entry from Animal Diversity Web says that the blue racer is one of several different racer subpopulations and adds a lot more information and photos including that in the wild, racers have been known to live over 10 years. Needless persecution by humans as well as habitat loss are probable factors in this decline. Once common, their numbers have fallen in many places. Racers have been found through most of the Lower Peninsula (except the northernmost sections) and the southern tip of the Upper Peninsula. The young racers hatch in late summer and, as noted above, are colored differently than the adults. Although they will bite if cornered or grabbed, racers are not venomous.įemales lay 6 to 25 eggs in rotting wood or underground during June and July. These snakes feed on rodents, frogs, smaller snakes, birds, and insects. They are alert, active snakes that may climb into low bushes to escape enemies. Racers inhabit a variety of places, including open woods, meadows, hedge rows, marshes, and weedy lake edges.

Young racers are grayish, with a pattern of darker blotches and spots. The head is usually darker than the body, though the chin and throat are white. Their Blue Racer (Coluber constrictor foxi) page explains:Ī large gray or blue snake with smooth scales. The DNR’s page on Michigan snakes says that Michigan has 17 native species. While Mitt Romney’s “the trees are the right height” memories of Michigan drew some laughter, I doubt that anyone would laugh at tomboy Ann Davies with a couple of blue racers draped around her arms. ~Ann Romney recalling her Michigan childhood ( article) I was the ultimate tomboy when I grew up here in Manistee and I loved the Great Lakes. “I’d drape them around my neck and around my wrist. “I liked to go on the road and catch the blue racers and sort of scare my brothers,” she said.

Coluber constrictor foxii snakes of michigan