Drymobius margaritiferus
Encyclopedia
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.
of Texas
in the United States
south to Colombia
. As it is the northernmost ranging species of Drymobius
, it is sometimes referred to as the Northern Speckled Racer.
near permanent water sources. They will consume a wide variety of prey, but primarily feed on frog
s and toad
s. 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 (15.2 cm) in length and reach maturity in 2-3 years.
of D. margaritiferus:
in the US state of Texas
.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of nonvenomous colubrid
Colubrid
A colubrid is a member of the snake family Colubridae. This broad classification of snakes includes about two-thirds of all snake species on earth. The earliest species of the snake family date back to the Oligocene epoch. With 304 genera and 1,938 species, Colubridae is the largest snake family...
snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
native to the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
. 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 ValleyRio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley or the Lower Rio Grande Valley, informally called The Valley, is an area located in the southernmost tip of South Texas...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
south to Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
. As it is the northernmost ranging species of Drymobius
Drymobius
Drymobius is a genus of colubrid snakes commonly referred to as neotropical racers. There are four species recognized in the genus.-Geographic range:...
, 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, which gives the snake an overall greenish hue. The labials are yellow, with black sutures. The underside is typically yellow to green. They average 30-40 in. (76-102 cm)in length, record 50 in. (127 cm).Behavior
Speckled Racers are fast moving, nervous snakes which do not often hesitate to bite if handled. They are typically found in densely vegetated habitatsHabitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
near permanent water sources. They will consume a wide variety of prey, but primarily feed on frog
Frog
Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...
s and toad
Toad
A toad is any of a number of species of amphibians in the order Anura characterized by dry, leathery skin , short legs, and snoat-like parotoid glands...
s. 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 (15.2 cm) in length and reach maturity in 2-3 years.
Subspecies
There are four recognized subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of D. margaritiferus:
- Drymobius margaritiferus margaritiferus (SchlegelHermann SchlegelHermann Schlegel was a German ornithologist and herpetologist.-Early life and education:Schlegel was born at Altenburg, the son of a brassfounder. His father collected butterflies, which stimulated Schlegel's interest in natural history...
, 1837) - Drymobius margaritiferus fistulosus (SmithHobart M. SmithHobart Muir Smith, born Frederick William Stouffer , is an American herpetologist. He was born in Stanwood, Iowa, United States. He has been credited with describing several new species of North American reptiles and amphibians...
, 1942) - Drymobius margaritiferus occidentalis (BocourtMarie Firmin BocourtMarie Firmin Bocourt was a French zoologist and artist.In zoology, Bocourt collaborated with Auguste Duméril. In 1861, he was sent to Thailand , where he explored the fauna and brought back an important collection of specimens...
, 1890) - Drymobius margaritiferus maydis (Villa, 1968)
Conservation status
The Speckled Racer is considered to be a threatened speciesThreatened species
Threatened species are any speciesg animals, plants, fungi, etc.) which are vulnerable to endangerment in the near future.The World Conservation Union is the foremost authority on threatened species, and treats threatened species not as a single category, but as a group of three categories,...
in the US state of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
.