coluber constrictor foxii snakes of michigan

Coluber constrictor foxii snakes of michigan full#
Coluber constrictor foxii snakes of michigan series#

the Blue Racer is a very fast snake and can move at a speed of almost 7 kph. COSEWIC status: Endangered SARA status: Endangered. The Blue Racer is a subspecies of the North American Racer (Coluber constrictor). Road mortality and human persecution continue to threaten this small population. Coluber constrictor foxii Family: Colubridae. However, some threat of development persists on private lands and ongoing succession of habitats in protected areas is resulting in ongoing decline of this species’ habitat.

Fortunately, much of this species’ habitat on the island is now protected by provincial nature reserves and land trusts. Habitat loss on Pelee Island due to conversion of land to agricultural use has been the largest threat to the Canadian Blue Racer population. Blue Racers may hibernate communally in large groups. The Blue Racer eats insects, frogs, other snakes, small rodents and birds. As its name suggests, the Blue Racer is a very fast snake and can move at a speed of almost 7 kph. Individuals of this species reach maturity in two to three years and can live for more than 20 years. Individuals may reproduce each year, but most likely only reproduce every two years in Canada. The eggs hatch in late summer, and the young are 20–30 cm in length. Biologyīlue Racers breed in the spring and females lay an average of 15 leathery eggs, sometimes communally. Females lay their eggs in rotting logs, stumps, vegetation or mounds of decaying matter, under rocks or in animal burrows. old foundations, cisterns) and other underground cavities. Individuals overwinter below the frost line in mammal burrows, rock crevices, anthropogenic structures (e.g. Rocks, logs and other cover objects are important microhabitats that provide retreat and thermoregulation sites. The Blue Racer inhabits grasslands, fields, savannah and open woodlands. The head is usually darker than the body, though the chin and throat are white. Their Blue Racer (Coluber constrictor foxi) page explains: A large gray or blue snake with smooth scales. states, in Mexico and south to Guatemala. The DNR’s page on Michigan snakes says that Michigan has 17 native species. The various subspecies of the North American Racer occur in southern Saskatchewan, southern British Columbia and throughout almost all U.S. This subspecies also occurs south of the Great Lakes in Ohio and west to Iowa. DistributionĪlthough the Blue Racer once occurred on the Ontario mainland, its Canadian distribution is now limited to Pelee Island, in Lake Erie.

Coluber constrictor foxii snakes of michigan full#

Eastern Foxsnakes have weakly keeled scales and a checkered belly, and Lake Erie Watersnakes have keeled scales and may have full bands, partial bands or be mostly grey, instead of having dark-bordered blotches. Young Blue Racers may be confused with young Lake Erie Watersnake or Eastern Foxsnake, the only species with a blotched pattern that live alongside Blue Racers on Pelee Island. The often light grey to black Lake Erie Watersnakes have a stout body, usually with some remnants of darker or lighter bands and keeled scales. The Smooth Greensnake, however, often turns bluish after death. Similar SpeciesĪs an adult this species is the only large, bluish snake in Ontario. The most common snakes in Michigan are water snakes and garter snakes. Individuals can grow to almost 2 m in length. Snake Facts The scientific name for this species is the Coluber constrictor foxii. The dorsal scales are smooth and it has a divided anal plate.

Coluber constrictor foxii snakes of michigan series#

Young juveniles are well-patterned with a series of dark-bordered, brown, red, or grey blotches over a grey to tan background. The Blue Racer is tan, pale blue or bluish green with a white or bluish belly and a dark “mask” may be visible around the eyes. The Blue Racer is a subspecies of the North American Racer ( Coluber constrictor). constrictor anthicus)Įastern Yellow-belly Racer (C.Click for more images Blue Racer Coluber constrictor foxii Family: Colubridae Michigan in United States.īlue Racers will bite if cornered, but are not venomous.īuttermilk Racer (C. Rodents, frogs, smaller snakes, birds, and insects.įemales lay 6 to 25 eggs in rotting wood or underground in June and July. They are alert, active snakes that may climb into low bushes to escape enemies. Open woodland, meadows, prairie, marshes, lake edges. Young racers are gray with darker blotches and spots. The head is usually darker than the body with white chin and throat. The Blue Racer is a large gray or blue snake with smooth scales.