Drymobius margaritiferus

Drymobius margaritiferus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Colubrinae
Genus:	Drymobius
Species:	D. margaritiferus
Binomial name
Drymobius margaritiferus (Schlegel, 1837)
Synonyms
Herpetodryas margaritiferus Schlegel, 1837 Leptophis margaritiferus Duméril, Bibron, & Duméril, 1854 Dromicus margaritiferus Günther, 1858 Thamnosophis margaritiferus Jan, 1863

Drymobius margaritiferus, commonly known as the Speckled Racer, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake native to the Americas. The specific name, margariiferus, means "pearl-bearing" in Latin, referring to the pearl-like spots on the dorsal scales.

Geographic range

It is found from the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States^[1] south to Colombia. As it is the northernmost ranging species of Drymobius, it is sometimes referred to as the Northern Speckled Racer.

Description

The Speckled Racer is typically black in color with distinctive yellow and blue spotting, one light-colored spot on each scale,^[2] which gives the snake an overall greenish hue. The labials are yellow, with black sutures.^[3] The underside is typically yellow to green. They average 30-40 in. (76-102 cm)in length, record 50 in. (127 cm).^[4]

Behavior

Speckled Racers are fast moving, nervous snakes which do not often hesitate to bite if handled. They are typically found in densely vegetated habitats near permanent water sources. They will consume a wide variety of prey, but primarily feed on frogs and toads. They are oviparous, laying up to 8 eggs at any time in the spring or summer months. The eggs incubate for approximately two months before hatching. Hatchlings are approximately 6 in (15 cm) in length and reach maturity in 2-3 years.

Subspecies

There are four recognized subspecies of D. margaritiferus:

• Drymobius margaritiferus margaritiferus (Schlegel, 1837)
• Drymobius margaritiferus fistulosus (Smith, 1942)
• Drymobius margaritiferus occidentalis (Bocourt, 1890)
• Drymobius margaritiferus maydis (Villa, 1968)

Conservation status

The Speckled Racer is considered to be a threatened species in the US state of Texas.^[5]

References

1. ^ "Drymobius margaritiferus". Herps of Texas. University of Texas at Austin. http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/snakes/drymobius.margaretiferus.html. Retrieved 2010-04-27. 
2. ^ Schmidt, K.P. and D.D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. G.P. Putnam's Sons. New York.
3. ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1894. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History) Vol. II. London.
4. ^ Conant, Roger. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Houghton Mifflin. Boston.
5. ^ "Speckled Racer (Drymobius margaritiferus)". Wildlife Fact Sheets. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/sracer/. Retrieved 2010-04-27. 

• Species Drymobius margaritiferus at The Reptile Database