Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi guys- I found this snake in my backyard in central GA recently. It is approximately 1 foot long, and appears to be a juvenile. Does anybody recognize this snake? Thanks a lot for your help!

Looks like a juvenile black racer (Coluber constrictor) to me. Non-venomous but spunky.

Thanks a lot, Bob. I think you are exactly right. He (or she) is rather spunky, by the way. have a nice day-

-Jared

This is a juvenile Eastern Coachwhip. Compare it to the picture of the juvenile racer in the post above this. Very similar looking snakes, but the coachwhip has a noticeable longer head and the way the pattern fades towards the tail is different.

Interesting and somewhat unusual pattern on this coachwhip baby!
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

Sorry to disagree Chris, but that little guy is a dead ringer for the juvenile N. Black Racer on Plate 26 of Conant and Collins (C&C).

Check it yourself - Northern Black Racer "Young: Strongly patterned with a middorsal row of dark gray, brown or reddish brown blotches..." (C&C pg. 338).

See also Fig. 6.3 on pg 337 of C&C. It is quite clear that this snake is a young Black Racer Coluber constrictor ssp..

Regards,

John D
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I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"

I think you are right about the snake above this, but this one just screams coachwhip at me from this photo.

I don't look snakes up in Conant (and Collins) very often anymore, so I couldn't tell you what the book says, but my gestalt-o-meter is pointing solidly towards the coachwhip here. The body is just too elongate for a young racer, IMHO.
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

>>I think you are right about the snake above this, but this one just screams coachwhip at me from this photo.
>>
>>I don't look snakes up in Conant (and Collins) very often anymore, so I couldn't tell you what the book says, but my gestalt-o-meter is pointing solidly towards the coachwhip here. The body is just too elongate for a young racer, IMHO.
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>>Chris Harrison
>>San Antonio, Texas

Hey Chris!
I place a lot of stock in the "gestalt-o-meter" myself. I have been fooled though by my GOM - see the posts below by Itshears. My GOM was pegged on "Indigo" for what turned out to be a Sinai Desert Cobra! Guess its not calibrated for Old World Snakes - LOL.

I do enjoy doing the reality check though. Conant (with or without Collins!) is my favorite reference when it comes to Eastern North American snakes. Wish I could find my 1st edition.

In any case, we can agree that we have different IDs for the little guy. Racer or Coach? Really, we can't be absolutely certain w/out the snake in hand. Either way its a cool snake.

Best Regards,

John D

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I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"

Once again, 100% Coluber. See my post in the preceding thread for reference photos.
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Pierson Hill

>>Once again, 100% Coluber. See my post in the preceding thread for reference photos.
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>>Pierson Hill
>>

So you agree?
Black Racer, as I said previously?

John D
-----
I am so not lesdysxic!

0.1 Creamsicle Cornsake "Yolanda"
1.0 Bairds Ratsnake "Steely Dan"
0.1 Desert Kingsnake "FATTY"
0.1 Black Rat (WV Rescue) "Roberta"