Coluber constrictor flaviventris - Eastern Yellow-bellied Racer

Description
The Eastern Yellow-belly Racer is a slender snake. It is olive grey-green, with a yellow or whitish underside. There are no markings on the head or back. dorsal markings. The throat and neck are bright yellow and the chin and lips are yellow or white. Juveniles are tan or cream with brown or grey blotches, changing to the grey green as they mature. They are fast moving diurnal predators.

Size
length to 150cm

Environment
open prairie, woodland edge, grasslands

Food
rodents, frogs, smaller snakes, birds, and insects.

Breeding
Females lay 6 to 25 eggs. The young snakes hatch in late summer.

Range
Range in United States extends from Montana, North Dakota, Iowa in the north to Texas and Louisiana in the south. It is also found in southern parts of Canada. It is listed as an endangered species in Saskatchewan.

Notes
The Eastern Yellow-belly Racer is a fast moving nervous snake, and will bite readily if handled (although the bite is not venomous). It is not a suitable snake to keep in captivity.