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North American Animals - mamals, birds, reptiles, insects
Eastern Yellow-belly Racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris)
Eastern Yellow-belly Racer
Photograph by LA Dawson. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
EASTERN YELLOW-BELLY RACER FACTSDescription
The Eastern Yellow-belly Racer is a slender snake. It is olive grey-green, with a yellow or whitish underside. There are no markings on the head or back. dorsal markings. The throat and neck are bright yellow and the chin and lips are yellow or white. Juveniles are tan or cream with brown or grey blotches, changing to the grey green as they mature. They are fast moving diurnal predators.
length to 150cm
open prairie, woodland edge, grasslands
rodents, frogs, smaller snakes, birds, and insects.
Females lay 6 to 25 eggs. The young snakes hatch in late summer.
Range in United States extends from Montana, North Dakota, Iowa in the north to Texas and Louisiana in the south. It is also found in southern parts of Canada. It is listed as an endangered species in Saskatchewan.
The Eastern Yellow-belly Racer is a fast moving nervous snake, and will bite readily if handled (although the bite is not venomous). It is not a suitable snake to keep in captivity.
Relatives in same Genus
Buttermilk Racer (C. constrictor anthicus)