Northern Black Racer Coluber constrictor constrictor Linnaeus, 1758    Synonyms: North American Racer.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Reptilia   >   Order Squamata   >   Family Colubridae   >   Genus Coluber   

Status:

Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) is a large, fast-moving snake species of a wide range of habitats and edges, including fields or meadows, rocky outcrops, open woodlands, and agricultural areas. Racers are quite adept and active generalist predators, and use their speed to overtake other snakes, as well as lizards, amphibians, insects, birds, and small mammals. Racers have a persistent habit of holding their head above the top of the vegetation, rather like a periscope, enabling it to spot predators or prey more effectively (Tennant, 2003). This attractive snake is found throughout Maryland.

Description:

The sleek black dorsal scales are unkeeled in this species.

There are 453 records in the project database.

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A Northern Black Racer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/18/2016). Photo by Justin Lee. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer with prey in Caroline Co., Maryland (6/26/2010). (c) Bill Hubick, all rights reserved. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer eating a Northern Water Snake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/27/2014). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer in Baltimore Co., Maryland (3/31/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/10/2014). Photo by Frode Jacobsen. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer about to shed in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/5/2013). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer in Frederick Co., Maryland (8/5/2013). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer in Worcester Co., Maryland (8/28/2013). Photo by Scott Housten. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer in Harford Co., Maryland (4/19/2015). Photo by Matthew Addicks. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer with Eastern Garter Snake prey in Dorchester Co., Maryland (9/29/2018). Photo by Rick Borchelt. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/11/2015). Photo by Richard Orr. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/15/2017). Photo by Justin Lee. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer in Howard Co., Maryland (5/14/2017). Photo by Bonnie Ott. (MBP list)

A juvenile Northern Black Racer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/5/2012). Juvenile Northern Black Racers are quite similar to Eastern Ratsnakes. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A juvenile Northern Black Racer biting Tom Feild in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (8/5/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Justin Lee via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer in Howard Co., Maryland (8/26/2013). Photo by Jeff Culler. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer in Allegany Co., Maryland (3/30/2021). (c) tomfeild, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Tom Feild. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (4/27/2018). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Race in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (3/17/2012). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer in Worcester Co., Maryland (4/11/2021). (c) Jim Brighton, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/1/2017). Photo by Justin Lee. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (9/26/2019). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer eating a juvenile Five-lined Skink in Caroline Co., Maryland (3/30/2020). Photo by Mark Johnson. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) romainclem, all rights reserved. Photo by romainclem via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A clutch of Northern Black Racer eggs in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/23/2018). (c) Kristof Zyskowski, some rights reserved (CC BY). Photo by Kristof Zyskowski via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A juvenile Northern Black Racer in Kent Co., Maryland (8/12/2016). (c) Aaron Krochmal, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Aaron Krochmal via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer in Prince George's Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Justin Lee via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Justin Lee via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A Northern Black Racer eating an Eastern Gartersnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (4/28/2005). (c) eaglebeach, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Lynn Strauss. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer eggs in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (7/16/2022). (c) arapp5, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by arapp5 via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer in Queen Anne's Co., Maryland (4/22/2021). (c) dansmall, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Dan Small. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer eggs in Prince George's Co., Maryland (7/2/2015). Photo by Justin Lee. (MBP list)

Northern Black Racer in Charles Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Justin Lee, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Justin Lee via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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