The Black Racer (Coluber constrictor) is a common, non-venomous North American reptile. Found across a wide range of habitats, this species frequently encounters humans, leading to curiosity about its behavior and diet. Clarifying its eating habits helps illustrate the snake’s significant role in its ecosystem and addresses the question of whether it consumes other snakes.
Identifying the Black Racer
The Black Racer is a long, slender snake, with adults typically reaching lengths between three and six feet. They are named for their rapid movement and agility, which is often used to flee from potential threats. The adult body is uniformly jet black, with smooth, unkeeled scales that give it a satiny appearance.
A distinct feature is the white or light gray chin and throat, which contrasts sharply with the dark body coloration. Juveniles exhibit a gray or tan background with reddish-brown blotches. These markings gradually fade as the snake matures into its adult black phase. Black Racers are diurnal and occupy a diverse range of habitats, including open fields, forest edges, pastures, and brushy areas.
The Predatory Behavior: Do They Eat Other Snakes?
Black Racers are ophidiophagic, meaning they will consume other snakes, including smaller or juvenile individuals of various species, and even their own young. This opportunistic behavior means any smaller snake they can overpower may become a meal. This includes juvenile venomous snakes like cottonmouths or rattlesnakes, demonstrating their broad predatory nature.
When hunting, the Black Racer employs a highly visual and active foraging style, often seen with its head raised above the vegetation in a technique known as “periscoping.” Despite its scientific name, Coluber constrictor, the Black Racer is not a true constrictor. It does not kill prey by coiling around it to suffocate it like a rat snake or python. Instead, the racer typically subdues prey by physically pinning the animal to the ground with its body and then swallowing it whole. Prey that is small enough may simply be swallowed alive without the pinning process.
Primary Prey Sources
While consuming other snakes is notable, the bulk of the Black Racer’s caloric intake comes from a diverse array of smaller animals. Their generalist diet includes many common species, cementing their role as important ecological controllers. Small rodents, such as mice, voles, and shrews, form a significant portion of their meals.
Lizards and frogs are frequently targeted, especially in regions where they are abundant. The racer’s speed makes them effective at catching these quick-moving reptiles and amphibians.
Insects, including crickets, grasshoppers, and various larvae, are also consumed, particularly by younger, smaller racers. They will occasionally consume bird eggs or nestlings found on the ground or in low-lying shrubs, showcasing their ability to climb.