Western yellow-bellied racer

The western yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor mormon),[1] also known as the western yellowbelly racer[2] or western racer,[1] is a snake species endemic to the Western United States, including California, Oregon, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Montana and Colorado.[3][4] It is a subspecies of the eastern racer. It is nonvenomous[5] and is recognized by its long and very slender shape.[6][7] It is visually similar to the eastern yellow-bellied racer, which is also green, blue or brown with a recognizable yellow underside. Also named for its color, the western yellow-bellied racer is also gray with red or brown blotches when young.[8][9]

Coluber constrictor mormon
Closeup of the head of a western yellow-bellied racer in Washington state.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Coluber
Species:
C. constrictor
Subspecies:
C. c. mormon
Trinomial name
Coluber constrictor mormon
(Baird & Girard, 1852)

References
  1. Wrobel, Murray (2004). Elsevier's Dictionary of Reptiles. Elsevier. Page 122. ISBN 9780080459202.
  2. Degenhardt, William G. and Charles W. Painter (2005). Amphibians and Reptiles of New Mexico. UNM Press. Page 13. ISBN 9780826338112.
  3. Booth, Douglas E. (2002). Searching for Paradise: Economic Development and Environmental Change in the Mountain West. Rowman & Littlefield. Page 123. ISBN 9780742518766.
  4. Matsuda, Brent M. and David M. Green (2006). Amphibians and Reptiles of British Columbia. Royal BC Museum. Page 209. ISBN 9780772654489.
  5. Mullally, Linda B. and David (2008). Best Hikes with Dogs: Central California. The Mountaineers Books. Page 27. ISBN 9781594850493.
  6. Stace-Smith, Richard and Lois Johns (1980). Threatened and Endangered Species and Habitats in British Columbia and the Yukon: Proceedings of the Symposium. The Branch. Page 155. ISBN 9780771984655.
  7. Brown, Philip (1997). A Field Guide to Snakes of California. Gulf Publishing Company. Page 58. ISBN 9780877193081.
  8. Richardson, Adele (2003). North American Racer Snakes. Capstone. Page 15. ISBN 9780736821391.
  9. Cox, Douglas C. and Wilmer W. Tanner (1995). Snakes of Utah. Brigham Young University. Page 28. ISBN 9780842523318.


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