Coluber constrictor

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	REPTILIA	SQUAMATA	COLUBRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Coluber constrictor

Species Authority:

Linnaeus, 1758

Common Name/s:

English

–

Eastern Racer, Racer

Synonym/s:

Coluber mormon Baird & Girard, 1852

Taxonomic Notes:

Western populations have been proposed to constitute a distinct species, Coluber mormon (Fitch et al. 1981), but this distinction has been demonstrated to be invalid (Corn and Bury 1986; see also Greene 1984).

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:	2007
Assessor/s:	Hammerson, G.A.
Reviewer/s:	Cox, N., Chanson, J.S. & Stuart, S.N. (Global Reptile Assessment Coordinating Team)
Contributor/s:
Justification: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution, tolerance of a broad range of habitats, presumed large population, and because it is unlikely to be declining fast enough to qualify for listing in a more threatened category.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	This species occurs through most of the United States, and ranges into southern Canada and northern and eastern Mexico, discontinuously southwards to Guatemala and Belize. It extends from southern British Columbia, southern Saskatchewan, Wisconsin, Michigan, southern Ontario, New York, and southern Maine southward in the United States to southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, the Gulf Coast, and southern Florida, and southward through northeastern, central, and southern Mexico to Guatemala and Belize (Wilson 1978, Lee 2000, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003). Elevational range extends from sea level to about 2,550 m (8,300 feet). A record for Durango, Mexico, evidently is erroneous (Webb 2001).
Countries:	Native: Belize; Canada; Guatemala; Mexico; United States
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species is represented by a very large number of occurrences or subpopulations (at least several hundred). The total adult population size is unknown but probably exceeds 1,000,000. This snake is common in most of its very large range in the United States but appears to be rare at the southern extent of the range in southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize (Lee 2000). The extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size are very large and probably relatively stable.
Population Trend:	Stable

Population:

This species is represented by a very large number of occurrences or subpopulations (at least several hundred). The total adult population size is unknown but probably exceeds 1,000,000. This snake is common in most of its very large range in the United States but appears to be rare at the southern extent of the range in southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize (Lee 2000). The extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of subpopulations, and population size are very large and probably relatively stable.

Population Trend:

Stable

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Habitats encompass a wide range of lowland and montane areas, including deserts, prairies, sandhills, shrublands, woodlands, forests, canyons, streamsides, and semi-agricultural areas. This snake is absent from the driest deserts and highest mountains (subalpine zones and higher). It commonly climbs shrubs and small trees. When inactive, it hides underground, in crevices, or under surface cover. Adults often hibernate communally, sometimes partly submerged in water. Eggs are laid in an underground tunnel or burrow, rotting stump, sawdust pile, or under a rock. Oviposition sites may be up to at least several hundred metres from the usual home range (Brown and Parker 1976; Iverson et al. 1995, Herpetological Review 26: 147-148).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

Habitats encompass a wide range of lowland and montane areas, including deserts, prairies, sandhills, shrublands, woodlands, forests, canyons, streamsides, and semi-agricultural areas. This snake is absent from the driest deserts and highest mountains (subalpine zones and higher). It commonly climbs shrubs and small trees. When inactive, it hides underground, in crevices, or under surface cover. Adults often hibernate communally, sometimes partly submerged in water. Eggs are laid in an underground tunnel or burrow, rotting stump, sawdust pile, or under a rock. Oviposition sites may be up to at least several hundred metres from the usual home range (Brown and Parker 1976; Iverson et al. 1995, Herpetological Review 26: 147-148).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	No major threats have been identified. Historically, some populations undoubtedly experienced significant declines, particularly in major agricultural regions of intensive cultivation. Remaining populations are extensive and not threatened in most areas.

Major Threat(s):

No major threats have been identified. Historically, some populations undoubtedly experienced significant declines, particularly in major agricultural regions of intensive cultivation. Remaining populations are extensive and not threatened in most areas.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Many occurrences are in national parks and other protected areas.

Conservation Actions:

Many occurrences are in national parks and other protected areas.

Citation:	Hammerson, G.A. 2007. Coluber constrictor. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2013.
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