Virginia's Snake

Virginia elegans, (Kennicott)

Distribution: The Central Region--southern Illinois, southward to Texas (inclusive).
Distribution: South Carolina to Florida; westward to eastern Texas and Mexico.
Distribution: U. S. east of the Mississippi.
Distribution: U. S. west of the Mississippi.
Distribution: Southern United States.
Distribution: Southern Arizona.
Distribution: Southwestern U. S.
Distribution: Arizona and California.
Distribution: Southwestern U. S.
Distribution: Western Texas.

Size, form and colour like the preceding. The only differ-once between the two species consists in the narrower scales arranged in a greater number of rows with the present one. If the rows of scales across the body be counted they will be found to number seventeen. With Valeria's Snake the scales are in fifteen rows.

Large Non-constricting Serpents, Characterised by their Great Agility

SLIM and graceful in form, large of size and very active in their movements, the snakes of the genera Spilotes and Zamenis have attained, in the popular interest, a certain prominence over many other reptiles, and may be appropriately grouped under a general, popular head--The Racers.

One species of Spilotes--the Gopher or Indigo Snake, occurs in the United States. The genus is a small one, in numbers. Most of the species occur in tropical South America. Zamenis is a large genus. The species inhabit North America, Mexico and Central America, and the Old World. Four species and several distinct varieties of these snakes occur in the United States. Two of the species inhabit the southwestern portion; the remaining two species range from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coasts.

All of the North American Racers have perfectly smooth scales. Although the body appears powerful enough, none of these snakes evinces the habit of constricting the prey.

A concise table, to assist in identification, follows:

A. Scales polished. One plate (preocular) in front of eye. Ventral plate entire. Genus Spilotes

Lustrous black above and beneath.

Chin red.

GOPHER SNAKE; INDIGO SNAKE, S. corais couperi.

B. Scales with dull, satiny lustre. Two plates (preoculars) in front of eye. Ventral plate divided.

Genus Zamenis.

a. No stripes or bands. (The key appeals to adult representatives of the species.)

Uniform, slaty black above and beneath; chin and throat white. BLACKSNAKE, Z. constrictor.

Olive above; pale yellow beneath.

"BLUE" RACER, Z. constrictor, variety flaviventris.

Forward portion of body blackish, becoming pale brown on latter portion; abdomen white.

COACHWHIP SNAKE, Z. flagelliformis.

Entire upper surface dark brown; uniform pink beneath.

PINK-BELLIED RACER, Z. flagelliformis, variety piceus.

b. Transverse bands on forward portion.

Reddish brown, with darker cross-bands on forward portion; abdomen pinkish.

RED RACER, Z. flagelliformis, variety frenatum.

c. Body with stripes, running lengthwise.

Brown or black--a single (narrow) yellow band on each side of body.

BANDED RACER, Z. lateralis.

Brown, with two or more narrow, yellow stripes on each side.

STRIPED RACER, Z. taeniatus.

d. Body with both bands and stripes.

Brown, with two, narrow yellow stripes on each side. Wide, dark cross-bands on the back.