A fast, slender, glossy black colubrid common across the eastern United States, frequently mistaken for a venomous snake.
Description
A slim snake reaching about 1.5 m with smooth, satin-black scales above and a paler grey or whitish chin. Juveniles look strikingly different — patterned with greyish blotches that fade to uniform black as they mature.
Behavior
Despite the scientific name “constrictor,” black racers rarely constrict — they typically pin prey with body coils and swallow it alive. They are exceptionally fast, alert daytime hunters that often raise the head to scan their surroundings before fleeing rapidly through grass.
Range
The species ranges across most of the United States and extends into southern Canada and northern Mexico, with several regionally distinct subspecies. They are abundant in disturbed habitats, including suburbs, parks, and powerline corridors.
Find more snakes by letter
Black Racer starts with B and ends with R. Browse other snakes along the same letter.
Snakes that contain a letter from "Black Racer":