Florida Snake Identification Key
Eastern Racer, Black Racer, Black Snake, Brownchin Racer, Everglades Racer, Racer, Southern Black Racer
Scientific name: Coluber constrictor (LINNAEUS 1758)
The following will separate the three Racers found in Florida. If you are unable to distinguish between them based on the characteristics in the key below, you probably can do so using the geographic location alone.
Select the box below that is the closest match to your snake:
Back is uniform bluish, greenish, or slate-gray; Everglades region of southern Florida and Cape Canaveral.
Your snake could be a Everglades Racer, Coluber constrictor paludicola.
Back is uniform black; chin and upper lips tan or brown; Apalachicola river drainage.
Your snake could be a Brownchin Racer, Coluber constrictor helvigularis.
Back is slate black, chin is white, iris is usually red or orange; throughout Florida (absent from the Everglades, Cape Canaveral, and the Apalachicola drainage).
Your snake could be a Southern Black Racer, Coluber constrictor priapus.