629 Records

Northern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor constrictor) is a large, fast-moving snake species of a wide range of habitats and edges, including fields or meadows, rocky outcrops, open woodlands, and agricultural areas. Racers are quite adept and active generalist predators, and use their speed to overtake other snakes, as well as lizards, amphibians, insects, birds, and small mammals. Racers have a persistent habit of holding their head above the top of the vegetation, rather like a periscope, enabling it to spot predators or prey more effectively (Tennant, 2003). This attractive snake is found throughout Maryland.

The sleek black dorsal scales are unkeeled in this species.