Species: Coluber constrictor
Encyclopedia of Puget Sound
Upper surface of adults varies from black (e.g., northeastern U.S) to plain brown or olive (most of western and central U.S.), with a spattering of white, yellowish, buff, or pale blue in some parts of the south-central United States; upper scales smooth (unkeeled); belly black (e.g., northeastern U.S.) to plain yellow or cream (western and central U.S.); eyes large; anal scale divided; nostril bordered by two separate scales; usually 15 dorsal scale rows just anterior to the vent; lower preocular scale (lowermost scale in front of the eye) wedged between upper lip scales. Total length up to around 190 cm in the northeastern U.S., much smaller (usually less than 90 cm) in the west. Hatchling: upper surface with numerous brown blotches on a paler background; eyes relatively huge. Source: Hammerson (1999).
Classification
Reptilia
Squamata
Colubridae
Coluber
NatureServe
Classification
Ecology and Life History
Upper surface of adults varies from black (e.g., northeastern U.S) to plain brown or olive (most of western and central U.S.), with a spattering of white, yellowish, buff, or pale blue in some parts of the south-central United States; upper scales smooth (unkeeled); belly black (e.g., northeastern U.S.) to plain yellow or cream (western and central U.S.); eyes large; anal scale divided; nostril bordered by two separate scales; usually 15 dorsal scale rows just anterior to the vent; lower preocular scale (lowermost scale in front of the eye) wedged between upper lip scales. Total length up to around 190 cm in the northeastern U.S., much smaller (usually less than 90 cm) in the west. Hatchling: upper surface with numerous brown blotches on a paler background; eyes relatively huge. Source: Hammerson (1999).