Wednesday, March 18, 2009

EASTERN YELLOW-BELLIED RACER



Picture of an eastern yellow-bellied racer

Picture of a juvenile eastern yellow-bellied racer

Area where racer snake is found in South Dakota

Characteristics:

* Known as the "blue racer" to many people

* The adult snake has solid blue to greenish colored back with a cream to bright yellow belly, with no pattern on back or belly

* Young racers have dark blotches along the back with spotted sides and scattered dark speckles on belly. As they grow older (2-3years), this coloration changes with skin shedding to the solid adult coloration

* Smooth scales

* Nonvenomous

* Diet: small mammals, birds and their eggs, amphibians, and insects

* Habitat: open grassland, pasture, and prairie areas

* Distribution: in the counties adjacent to the Missouri River and all counties in western South Dakota

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