Wildlife: Racer, Ground Snake

 

Racer, Ground Snake – Alsophis cantherigerus caymanus
(Grand Cayman)

 

 
 
 
  Size: 500 to 860 mm SVL* As is usual with most snakes, females are larger than males. The record size for a female so far is 1190 mm SVL* and weighing 1.25 kg. Basic colour is grey with a series of small dark blotches along the sides with larger adults sometimes showing a rosy pink wash. When upset this snake will expand its throat to each side to make its head appear larger as a defence. It is active during daylight hours. Its habitat encompasses all strata. In other words, it is both ground-dwelling and arboreal. This adaptation enables this snake to be most successful given the limited resources of a small island. This snake is well known as being the primary predator of Cuban Tree Frogs. It also takes the nestlings of birds, causing alarm calls from the adult birds which will often gather to mob the snake. This snake has been seen to drop from a tree, while yet holding a prey species in its jaws. It will then seem to go into a temporary catatonic state or “plays dead”, following which it will rapidly slither away with its prey. One of the benefits of our local racer is that it feeds on baby rats.
 
* Key:
SVL Snout to Vent Length
TL

Total Length (including tail)

   
 
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