Quick Take
- 73 inches is the record-breaking length for the black racer snake.
- The 1.25-pound weight limit creates a physical vulnerability during fights with cottonmouths.
- Matted scales serve as the primary identifier for the black racer.
- Completing the Periscoping phase is mandatory for prey acquisition during the black racer’s active scouting.
Black racer snakes are known to be fast, with some reaching speeds of 8-10 mph, which is a pretty good clip, especially for a snake. They are also large snakes with an average length of 3-5 feet. Black racers look similar to various other black snakes, but they are skinnier snakes about the size of a garden hose.
Rat snakes and racers are often mixed up because of their similar looks, but racers are thinner, not quite as long, and have bigger eyes. The scales of a black racer have a smooth, matted look, while the rat snake has a glossy, textured look.
Racer snakes are a bit shorter than rat snakes, but they are still large snakes, so just how big is the largest black racer snake ever recorded?
Black racer snakes are really fast snakes, and they can get pretty long too!
©Breck P. Kent/Shutterstock.com
How Large Are Black Racer Snakes?
Black racer snakes average 3-5 feet in length. They are not thick-bodied snakes and only weigh about 1 ¼ pounds. They have long skinny bodies, with their heads about the same width as the rest of their body, like a long jump rope. Their tail tapers off to a point, getting skinnier as it goes. Black racers are smaller than black rat snakes.
How Big Is the Largest Black Racer Snake Ever Recorded?
According to the Virginia Herpetological Society, the largest black racer ever was 73 inches (6.08 feet). Most doorways are 7 feet tall, so it measured just a foot shorter than that. That is a large snake!
Where Do Black Racer Snakes Live?
There are two kinds of black racers in the United States: the northern black racer and the southern black racer. They live in the eastern United States, with the southern part of Maine being the northern edge of their habitat and all the way down to the Florida Keys.
Northern black racers and southern black racers live in the eastern United States from Maine down to Florida.
©Psychotic Nature/Shutterstock.com
They prefer to live in fields, pastures, scrubby and sandy landscapes, and along the edges of forests. Southern black racers are good climbers and can be found in trees and (disturbingly) on top of houses and garages! They can be found in suburban backyards.
These snakes swim a lot and don’t typically venture too far away from bodies of water. They also spend plenty of time underground, beneath thickets, debris, leaves, and brush. They hide away in their underground dens in October to brumate during the cold season, then come back out to breed in spring.
Are Black Racers Venomous?
No, black racers are not venomous. They do not have any venom that is harmful to humans. Although they are not venomous, they can bite, and it will be painful. Instead of using venom to kill their prey, they leap on top of their prey and hold them down until they die. They also do not tolerate being held and can emit a foul smell if threatened.
What Is the Lifespan of a Black Racer?
During brumation, black racers remain inactive but not completely asleep and begin migrating to their winter dens by late October. They choose the same den year after year and may share it with other species of snakes. As breeding season begins in late March, these snakes become more territorial and defensive as they take part in mating rituals.
The female will lay a clutch of 3-32 eggs between June and July, which have a granular texture compared to those of other snake species. These eggs can be hidden under logs or burrows within leaf litter or sand or even left in communal nests.
The largest black racer snake ever recorded was 73 inches long, which is a tad longer than 6 feet!
©Perry Correll/Shutterstock.com
It takes 1-2 years for males to mature and 2-3 years for females before they reach full adulthood. Black racer snakes have lifespans reaching up to 10 years old when living in the wild.
How Does That Compare to Other Snakes?
Here is a list of some of the largest snakes in the world:
- Green Anaconda: 30 feet
- Amethystine Python: 26 feet
- Reticulated Python: 25 feet
- Burmese Python: 23 feet
- Indian Python: 20 feet
- King Cobra: 19 feet
- African Rock Python: 16 feet
- Black Mamba: 14 feet
- Boa Constrictor: 13 feet
- King Brown Snake: 11 feet
What Should You Do If You Find a Black Racer Snake?
If you would like to see if your find beats the record of the longest black racer snake ever recorded, you could call authorities to have it removed and recorded. Coming across a snake in the wild, you should back away slowly and give it some space.
If you are lucky to see one from a distance, you will get to watch its unique mode of hunting called “periscoping,” where it glides along with its head held high above the ground, like a periscope. Snakes have a keen sense of sight, and they scan the area for prey.
When they see a frog, lizard, small bird, or another snake, they will pounce on it and hold it to the ground until they can swallow it whole. They are not picky eaters, which helps when you are a six-foot-long snake!
