Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,

Since this is a UK site, I dont know if I'll get much help with this because I live in the US. Anyway, I live around Tampa in the state of Florida. My cat was playing with what I thought was a lizard but actually turned to be a snake. I'm not much into reptiles, I was before with all the anoles and toads living in my backyard, so I had trouble figuring out what snake this was. I picked it up with a stick, fearing it may be venoumous, although it was qiute docile. Yeah so I snapped a couple shots of it and then released it at a nearby woods. It was young, not more than a foot long, and not more than half an inch thick. It had these reddish brown patches on its back and a whole bunch of red dots running on the side across its belly. Yeah so I just wanted to find out what snake this is. I've never seen any snake like this besides the occaisonal ringneck and wormsnakes in my backyard.

Thank You for any help

Actually this is a US site so you will no doubt get an answer shortly. Im not sure what kind it is, maybe a juvenile racer of some sort. There are a few people who regularly post on here that will be able to identify it for you, some who live in Florida.

ep
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Occupants not paying rent:
1.1. balls
1.1 corns
1 everglades rat
1 w. hognose
1 bearded dragon
2.1 cats

That is a juvenile Southern Black Racer. Trey

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>>Hello,
>>
>>Since this is a UK site,

Actually, Jeff started this site in Austin, Texas.

The snake is actually a juvenile Eastern Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum).
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Hello

Oh, oops, I didnt mean to put this was a UK site. I actually just copied the entire message from this site which ACTUALLY IS located in the UK: http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/about3534.html The people there told me it was a Storeria dekayi, or Florida Brown Snake. So far then I've had people tell me it is Storeria dekayi, a black racer, some sort of garter, or a coachwhip. I appreciate all the help I've been getting. I'll try to post more pics.

Again, Thanks for all the help

I got it everybody. It IS a southern black racer. Sorry for the immodesty but I dont feel like typing out the reasoning here again. Just read the whole thing here http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=3534

Thank You all again

That is a Eastern Coachwhip, there is not much body pattern on that snake and racers have much more than that as juvi's, the head shape is different as well.

I dont know much about coachwhips, but that deff isnt a racer.

As Chrish said its a Eastern Coachwhip deffeneitly not a Racer.
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Cameron

I just looked on the Uk site that you posted on, i cant believe people thought this was a Garter snake or ribbon. There is no similarity, unless you dont know anything about snakes.
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Cameron

That snake is a juvie, southern black racer, the snake is starting to lose its pattern and will eventually turn black, if you guys need pics of a juvie eastern coach i could send some, but it is not an eastern coachwhip what so ever. Zach ..sorry for typos or anything else, im in a huge rush.

Note the information with the photos.

Red speckled belly, rusty BLOTCHES on back, gray ground color.

- Juv Coachwhips have dark BANDS across the neck, and a brown or tan ground color. No red speckles on belly.

The snake is a Southern Black Racer.

Frank
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"The luxury of not getting involved departed with the last lifeboat Skipper..."

Thanks Frank, 100% Racer.Trey

That must be a Vanishing pattern racer, because i have never seen a juvi look like that, but i have seen coachwhips look like that.

Who knows maybe its a cross.

Im not expert and i may be wrong but im sticking with coachwhip
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Cameron

Yes, the pattern does "vanish" on the way from its juvinile coloration to an all black adult. You can clearly see the blotches on this snake that coachwhips don't have.

Frank,

I am not sure whether to agree or disagree with you.

The color pattern certainly says racer, but that head is too long for me. One of the easiest ways for me tell Coluber from Masticophis when young has always been head shape.

However, your points about the color pattern do lead me towards Coluber as well.

Chris
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Thanks again all for confirming, its a racer.

Here's a juvy e. coachwhip

and here's a (baby) juvy racer.

Now in my experience the racers darken up at different rates, but within months this racer will look exactly as the one in question I believe.
Some are almost all black in just 3-4 mos. others retain some of their "baby colors" for for longer.
Look at the head, eyes, and scales.
Hey, just my opinion.
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Surrender Dorothy!

www.crimsonking.funtigo.com

Your photos are much prettier.

-Joan