![]() The juveniles however are remarkably different. ![]() The other ten subspecies may be black, brown, blue or green with a lighter color belly. The adults are usually olive grey-green with a yellow belly. Eggs begin hatching around mid-August and hatchlings are often observed in Colorado in late August to September (Hammerson 1999).The Eastern Yellowbelly Racer ( Coluber constrictor flaviventris) is a long, lean, fast snake. Also, some females will share a communal nest. Eggs are laid in a nest from late June to mid-July with some clutches laid as late as early August. Egg-laden females can be found in mid-June in Colorado and the gestation period for eggs in the western U.S. constrictor reportedly produces smaller clutches at 4-10 eggs (Stebbins 2003). However, in western Colorado and Utah, C. Longer and older females produce larger clutches and clutch sizes are relatively large in the Great Plains region at 9-14 eggs. Female reproduction is annual with a single clutch each year that is dependent on the size of the female. Courtship can occur on the ground or aboveground in vegetation (Hammerson 1999). In Colorado, most mating probably occurs in May and June (Hammerson 1999). Males find females by following their scent trails. Females mature in 2 to 3 years of age at TBLs of 50-71 cm (Ernst & Ernst 2003. Reproduction: Males mature in 11 months to 2 years at TBL of 50-68 cm however males will not mate until at least their second spring (Ernst & Ernst 2003). In these dens, the North American Racer can be found in aggregations that may include other species (Stebbins, 2003). Winter is spent below ground in hibernating sites that include deep rock crevices, mammal burrows, and dens beneath buildings or in structures. constrictor will also become inactive when digesting food and just prior to a skin shedding (Hammerson 1999). ![]() During hot summer weather, this species reduces its activity to midmornings and late afternoons. They can move quickly over the ground and are also adept tree climbers. Later, they emerge completely and bask for about a half hour more (Ernst and Ernst 2003). These snakes are diurnal and poke their heads out of their burrows to bask for half an hour in the morning. Daily activity may begin as early as 8:30 am in the summer in ends when Racers can no longer maintain a body temperature of 32 degrees Celsius (Hammerson 1999). In the early fall, around September and October, most of the active individuals are hatchlings, while most adults cease activity. constrictor habitat includes open hardwood and pine forests, brushy areas, sagebrush flats, scrub and prairie grasslands, meadows, old fields, and swamp and marsh boarders at elevations of sea level to over 2,100 meters.Īctivity: Annual activity of the North American Racer usually begins in April in Colorado. constrictor and so it will often reside in a place with an available water source. Furthermore, dehydration is a problem facing C. This species requires spaces to retreat to and those can include mammal burrows, rocks and crevices, rotting logs and stumps, piles of vegetation, and other debris (Ernst & Ernst 2003). Throughout the state, this species can be found where farming and ranching areas are mixed with patches of undisturbed habitat (Hammerson 1999). Occasionally, North American Racers will reside in rocky pinon-juniper woodlands bordering valley bottoms in Western Colorado also. ![]() In western Colorado, habitats include semi-desert shrublands and lowland riparian habitats as well as adjacent areas in valleys and canyon bottoms (Stebbins, 2003). In eastern Colorado, the North American Racer can be found in prairie grasslands, sandhills, open riparian woodlands, shrubby foothills, and canyons. Habitat: The North American Racer can be found in a variety of habitats that are open and dry. ![]()
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