Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a pair of hatchling black racers. The problem is I'm not 100% certain that they are southern black racers, they could be everglades racers they were caught in southern Florida. They just don't have that shiny black appearance like most of the pics I've seen for southern blacks. Aside from the juvenile pattern, they seem to have a non-metallic gray color. Also, their eyes are an orangish- red. Does anyone know other characteristics I should look for to find out what these guys are.

Adult southern racers are plain black or slate gray with a white or gray chin and throat. I have never seen a southern racer let alone any racer with orange-red eyes.
Hope that helped some
-----
1.0 Albino Corn "Lucky"
1.0 Snow Corn "Snow"
0.0.1 Southern Ringneck "Lazy"
1.0 Green Amevia "Gizard"

Sorry i didnt realize you meant juviniles, Until they get about 19-21 inches racers are slate gray with regular rusty brown blotches running down the back. Also im gonna take back what i said about them never having orange-red eyes as they do as juvi's, i totally forgot that. Most likely they are everglades racers. But im not 100% positive.
-----
1.0 Albino Corn "Lucky"
1.0 Snow Corn "Snow"
0.0.1 Southern Ringneck "Lazy"
1.0 Green Amevia "Gizard"

"I have never seen a southern racer let alone any racer with orange-red eyes."

Well now you have!
Brian

-----

RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath"(KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Great plains rat snake "Reign Fire" (TX locale)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

The priapus as juveniles have a greyish ground color marked with a series of russet to brown blotches. The irises are mostly dark red-orange.

The paludicola as juveniles have a more pinkish ground color with russet to brown blotches. The irises are mostly pale orange or yellow.

If they were caught within the natural intergrade zone in southern FL, then you could very well have an intergrade, and they can exhibit the characteristics of both ssp or one ssp, and can be hard to differentiate.
Hope this helps.
Brian Baker

>>I have a pair of hatchling black racers. The problem is I'm not 100% certain that they are southern black racers, they could be everglades racers they were caught in southern Florida. They just don't have that shiny black appearance like most of the pics I've seen for southern blacks. Aside from the juvenile pattern, they seem to have a non-metallic gray color. Also, their eyes are an orangish- red. Does anyone know other characteristics I should look for to find out what these guys are.
-----

RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath"(KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Great plains rat snake "Reign Fire" (TX locale)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian