Description | The southern black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) is one of the more common subspecies of the non-venomous Coluber constrictor snake species of the Southeastern United States. The subspecific name priapus refers to the proximal spines of the hemipenes being much enlarged into basal hooks, which is characteristic of this subspecies. These snakes are quite active during the day, which increases the chance of sightings. They eat almost any animal they can overpower, including rodents, frogs, toads, and lizards. Members of this species generally do not tolerate handling – even after months in captivity – and typically strike and flail wildly every time they are handled, often defecating a foul-smelling musk, a common defense against predators in snakes. Adults of the species are usually thin with a jet black dorsal side with a grey belly and white chin. They are quite fast, giving rise to the name "racer".
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Source Data | |
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Rank | subspecies |
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Taxonomy (GBIF) | Life : Animalia : Chordata : Reptilia : Squamata : Colubridae : Coluber : Coluber constrictor : Coluber constrictor priapus |
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Taxonomic Status (GBIF) | accepted |
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Classification (GBIF) | |
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Generic Name | Coluber |
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Scientific Name | Coluber constrictor priapus Dunn & Wood, 1939 |
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Common Name(s) | Southern Black Racer |
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Wikipedia | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coluber_constrictor_priapus |
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Dunn,E.R. and Wood,G.C. (1939) Notes on eastern snakes of the genus Coluber.: Notulae Naturae Philadelphia, No. 5: 1-4 - via Catalogue of Life |
Collins, J.T. and T. W. Taggart (2009) Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians, Sixth Edition.: Center for North American Herpetology, 48 pp. - via Catalogue of Life |
Frank, Norman & Ramus, Erica (1995) A Complete Guide to Scientific and Common Names of Reptiles and Amphibians of the World.: Pottsville: N G Publishing Inc., 377 pp. - via Catalogue of Life |
Tennant, A. & Bartlett, R.D. (2000) Snakes of North America - Eastern and Central Regions.: Gulf Publishing, Houston, TX, 588 pp. - via Catalogue of Life |
Conant, R., and J. T. Collins, 1991: null. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians, Eastern and Central North America, Third Edition. 450. - via Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) |