Herpetofauna: One Life's List

Coluber constrictor constrictor
Northern Black Racer

Near Rockingham, North Carolina.
 May 23, 1998

Wow!  What else can be said about these snakes!  I say snakes, because this was a pair, upholding my tendency of finding Coluber in pairs most of the time.

These were encountered along the margin of some pine woods in south central North Carolina. Both were the same size, slightly over four feet in length. The photographs do not do them justice; we spent a long time admiring them and their lustrous black coloration.  I have a new favorite now in the Racer family!

At four feet, these creatures could easily add another foot or more to their length eventually.  They will prey on any smaller snake, lizards, frogs, birds, or mammals they can find.