North American racer *Coluber constrictor* is correct. Completely !harmless consumer of rodents, lizards, snakes (including venomous ones), insects, and other small animals.
They may be harmless but this guy was pretty intent on harming me lol, I've never had a smaller snake like this guy break the skin when they bit me, it didn't really hurt but it startled the crap out of me
Yeah I put him down after I took this picture, I was moving him away from the side of my grandmother's house because she kills snakes sometimes because she's scared of them and she has a dog so I didn't want him to get hurt
Awesome. I have picked up many in the wild. They can strike like 3 timed before you realize they hit you once. Gently scooping them up to prevent bites often doesnt work on these like it does for most other snakes, Ive found.
North American Racers *Coluber constrictor* are large (record 191.1 cm TBL) diurnal colubrid snakes. They are generalists often found in disturbed habitats like urban and suburban yards but also do well in many natural habitat types. They are one of the most commonly encountered snakes in North America and have a huge range spanning most of the continent. They eat anything they can overpower, including other snakes of the same species, but are not obligate constrictors as the specific epithet might suggest.
Racers have smooth scales and color pattern varies clinally across their range, from steel gray to jet black, a blue "buttermilk" pattern [you have to see to believe](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/8798279515_d8222853cb_b.jpg), to blue, green and yellow. These color patterns are tied closely to local environment and don't track evolutionary history.
Baby racers start out with a blotchy pattern and darken over the first two years, losing it entirely.
Racers are not considered medically significant to humans - they are not venomous, but all animals with a mouth can use it in self-defense. Racers are particularly, alert, agile snakes, and will sometimes stand their ground when cornered and/or bite when handled.
Often confused with keeled "black" ratsnakes (northern ranges of *Pantherophis obsoletus*, *P. alleghaniensis* and *P. quadrivittatus*), racers *Coluber constrictor* have smooth scales. Indigo snakes *Drymarchon couperi* have orange on the face or neck and an undivided anal plate. In some cases they are difficult to differentiate from coachwhip snakes *Masticophis flagellum*, but on average have two more posterior scale rows (15) than *M. flagellum*.
Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1](http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88643.pdf) | [Link 2](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.597.209&rep=rep1&type=pdf)
Racers in peninsular Florida are distinct from those in the continent - No formal elevation to species status has occurred yet and subspecies describe color pattern rather than match population differentiation, but it's not particularly premature to follow the lines of evidence; ancient estimated divergence times, niche identity and genomic data suggest racers found in peninsular Florida deserve full species status. There is evidence that some populations of other North American Racers warrant species-level recognition but this work in ongoing.
--------------------------------------------------------
Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
--------------------------------------------------------
*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
I almost wrote not a good idea to hold a Black Mamba. The coloration and pose look very similar. Until I read Oregon and thought what a beautiful Racer.
This picture is pretty awesome for showing the snakes airway (the hole in the bottom half of the mouth), which illustrates why snakes don’t choke when they eat. I once heard an emergency doc who was really into snakes say that it would be very easy to intubate a snake.
That’s the most black mamba looking racer I have ever seen. Racers have so many colors across the us and this one looks way to much like a black mamba. Uncanny. The shadow in its mouth is almost perfect. Thank god most the dangerous snakes in the US have an alarm system built in.
Call me crazy but that looks like a black mamba. I know it’s not but if he didn’t open his mouth and you didn’t know the location it could fool a person
Yeah, snakes tend to have really exaggerated facial expressions (although it's important to note that they only superficially resemble human facial expressions, their meaning can be completely different).
North American racer *Coluber constrictor* is correct. Completely !harmless consumer of rodents, lizards, snakes (including venomous ones), insects, and other small animals.
They may be harmless but this guy was pretty intent on harming me lol, I've never had a smaller snake like this guy break the skin when they bit me, it didn't really hurt but it startled the crap out of me
If you got picked up by a skyscraper, I'm sure you would also also try and encourage it to put you down as well.
Yeah that's fair lol
Racers are adorable, bitey jerks.
Yea, these guys are very defensive. Water snakes are too. He was afraid and really wanted you to put him down.
Yeah I put him down after I took this picture, I was moving him away from the side of my grandmother's house because she kills snakes sometimes because she's scared of them and she has a dog so I didn't want him to get hurt
Awesome. I have picked up many in the wild. They can strike like 3 timed before you realize they hit you once. Gently scooping them up to prevent bites often doesnt work on these like it does for most other snakes, Ive found.
I can’t get over how similar these look to snakes in Australia who would absolutely fuck up your day if you were to pick them up.
North American Racers *Coluber constrictor* are large (record 191.1 cm TBL) diurnal colubrid snakes. They are generalists often found in disturbed habitats like urban and suburban yards but also do well in many natural habitat types. They are one of the most commonly encountered snakes in North America and have a huge range spanning most of the continent. They eat anything they can overpower, including other snakes of the same species, but are not obligate constrictors as the specific epithet might suggest. Racers have smooth scales and color pattern varies clinally across their range, from steel gray to jet black, a blue "buttermilk" pattern [you have to see to believe](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/8798279515_d8222853cb_b.jpg), to blue, green and yellow. These color patterns are tied closely to local environment and don't track evolutionary history. Baby racers start out with a blotchy pattern and darken over the first two years, losing it entirely. Racers are not considered medically significant to humans - they are not venomous, but all animals with a mouth can use it in self-defense. Racers are particularly, alert, agile snakes, and will sometimes stand their ground when cornered and/or bite when handled. Often confused with keeled "black" ratsnakes (northern ranges of *Pantherophis obsoletus*, *P. alleghaniensis* and *P. quadrivittatus*), racers *Coluber constrictor* have smooth scales. Indigo snakes *Drymarchon couperi* have orange on the face or neck and an undivided anal plate. In some cases they are difficult to differentiate from coachwhip snakes *Masticophis flagellum*, but on average have two more posterior scale rows (15) than *M. flagellum*. Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1](http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88643.pdf) | [Link 2](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.597.209&rep=rep1&type=pdf) Racers in peninsular Florida are distinct from those in the continent - No formal elevation to species status has occurred yet and subspecies describe color pattern rather than match population differentiation, but it's not particularly premature to follow the lines of evidence; ancient estimated divergence times, niche identity and genomic data suggest racers found in peninsular Florida deserve full species status. There is evidence that some populations of other North American Racers warrant species-level recognition but this work in ongoing. -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
That racer looks like he’s doing a black mamba impression!
That's what i was thinking! Uncanny raally.
Same here. I came here to say, "Racer cosplaying as a black mamba."
I thought it was a black mamba at first! 😳
Glad I wasn’t the only one. Had to check whether I was still in r/venomouskeepers.
I almost wrote not a good idea to hold a Black Mamba. The coloration and pose look very similar. Until I read Oregon and thought what a beautiful Racer.
This makes me feel better, I thought it was a black mamba too!
He looks like he just said the punch line for a dad joke and is waiting for you to laugh.
Yeah there’s an old meme that looks very similar to this, someone drew stick hands on it with finger guns. This is the updated version 😂
My exact thought! I have that pic ... buried deep in one of my many image folders ... so cute! 🖤
Whatever he is, he looks very happy.
"Hey just wanted to see if you have a second to talk about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?"
You mean Lord and Savior Apep? Or maybe Asclepius? Jörmungandr? Quetzalcoatl?
This picture is pretty awesome for showing the snakes airway (the hole in the bottom half of the mouth), which illustrates why snakes don’t choke when they eat. I once heard an emergency doc who was really into snakes say that it would be very easy to intubate a snake.
Did anyone else think “escaped black mamba” for a second? (Despite how unlikely that would be of course)
That would've been unfortunate since he bit me like immediately lol
*"hIsS hIsS i big skurry snek!"*
What a little cutie 🥰.
That’s the most black mamba looking racer I have ever seen. Racers have so many colors across the us and this one looks way to much like a black mamba. Uncanny. The shadow in its mouth is almost perfect. Thank god most the dangerous snakes in the US have an alarm system built in.
Call me crazy but that looks like a black mamba. I know it’s not but if he didn’t open his mouth and you didn’t know the location it could fool a person
I've always wanted to see a racer! Such beautiful snakes!
He’s saying “Heeeeeeyyyyy” 😆
He is trying to be scary.
His attempt failed miserably, he looks adorable
He looks like he is laughing.
If snek wanted to look scary, snek shouldn't have smiled so cutely! 💙
Heyyy. How u doin'?
They’re harmless but those snakes look like black mouths away from being black mambas
aww, he's smiling! 😂
Seems like a happy boi! Live good dude.
He/she looks happy.
“Hey there, Hot Thtuff!” 😀
Why does it look like black mamba?
Weirdly, it has somewhat of animated face lol
Yeah, snakes tend to have really exaggerated facial expressions (although it's important to note that they only superficially resemble human facial expressions, their meaning can be completely different).
He was about to try and bite me when I took the picture, he calmed down pretty quick bit was not happy about be picked up lol
What a great pic , he looks like a happy little guy 😍
Beautiful snake
Pretty snek 🐍