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Northern black racer facts for kids

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Coluber constrictor constrictor
Coluber constrictorPCCA20040327-1229B.jpg
Coluber constrictor constrictor,
northern black racer
Conservation status
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Coluber
Species:
Subspecies:
C. c. constrictor
Trinomial name
Coluber constrictor constrictor
Linnaeus, 1758
Synonyms
  • Coluber constrictor
    Linnaeus, 1758
  • Bascanion constrictor
    — Baird & Girard, 1853
  • Coryphodon constrictor
    A.M.C. Duméril & Bibron, 1854
  • Zamenis constrictor
    Boulenger, 1893
  • Coluber constrictor
    Stejneger & Barbour, 1917

The northern black racer (scientific name: Coluber constrictor constrictor) is a type of snake. It's a subspecies of the eastern racer, which means it's a specific kind within the larger eastern racer group. This snake is not venomous, so it's harmless to humans. It belongs to the family Colubridae, which is a large group of snakes. You can find northern black racers mostly in the northeastern United States.

Where Northern Black Racers Live

The northern black racer, Coluber constrictor constrictor, lives across a wide area. You can find them in southern states like Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

They also live further north in central New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. To the west, their home range includes Tennessee, Kentucky, and eastern Ohio.

In some places, their territory overlaps with other types of racers. For example, in the south, they share space with the southern black racer (Coluber constrictor priapus). In the west, they overlap with the eastern yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor flaviventris).

State Symbol

The northern black racer is an important symbol in one U.S. state. It is the official state reptile of Ohio.

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