Speckled Racer
Drymobius margaritiferus
The Drymorbius Margaritiferus is often black with unique blue and yellow spots with one light-colored spot on each scale giving it an overall greenish hue. Growing to an…
How to identify
The Drymorbius Margaritiferus is often black with unique blue and yellow spots with one light-colored spot on each scale giving it an overall greenish hue. Growing to an average length of 76cm to 102cm in length, there have been records of some growing as much as 127cm. The dorsal scales are feebly keeled centrally whilst smooth on its edges and are arranged in 17 rows with ventrals amounting to between 142 and 168 whilst subcaudals are between 85 and 126. Furthermore, subcaudal scales and ventral plates are bordered in black posteriorly and it has divided anal plates.
Range
The Drymobius margaritiferus is a snake native to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas that is a region that is in the southernmost part of Texas. It includes Counties of Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, and Wilcacy and is bordered eastern-wards by the Texan Gulf coast and to the south by Rio Grande River in Mexico.
Habitat
They are a fast-moving species that are swift to bite usually found in areas of thick vegetation pretty close to permanent water sources. They are known to favorite feeding on frogs and toads which may explain their preference for being more common around water sources. They are oviparous laying about 8 eggs between mid-spring and late summer months with eggs requiring about two months to incubate and hatching to lengths of 15cm achieving adulthood in about three years.
Variations
The Great Corn Island Racer (Drymobius Margaritiferus Maydis) is a speckled pattern snake with juvenile patterns remaining a mainstay to adulthood. It has about 35 to 45 darkly diffused dorsal bands which are about two to three unitary scale length long with lateral extensions into its ventrals. Its anterior edges at the mid-dorsal scales are between blue to gray with black posterior edges. The subcaudals are also posteriorly black edged.
Similar species
The North American Racer (Coluber constrictor) are snakes that typically grow to total lengths between 20 to 60 inches including its tail. Its juveniles are uniquely patterned with a central dorsal row of dark blotches on a lighter background color. A typical adult weighs very well over one pound with an unpatterned tail and a darkened dorsum. The Speckled Kingsnake Racer (Lampropeltis holbrooki) is a non-venomous snake that grows to an adult length of 72 inches including its tail. It is patterned by yellow-white specks on a background of the back with a speck at the center of every dorsal scale. The Caninana Chicken Snake (Splotes pullatus) attains an adult length of 2.7m. Its dorsal region is colored with black and yellows spots that make cross bands with a yellow snout tip. It has 14 to 16 dorsal scales in the mid-section of its body, a range of between 198 to 232 ventrals. Its head is distinct from the neck with moderately sized eyes with round pupils.
Name and etymology
Margaritiferus: Latin for pearl (margarita) bearing (-iferus).
At a glance
Range
The Drymobius margaritiferus is a snake native to the Rio Grande Valley of Texas that is a region that is in the southernmost…
Habitat
They are a fast-moving species that are swift to bite usually found in areas of thick vegetation pretty close to permanent wa…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap