Western yellow-bellied racer explained

The western yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor mormon),^[1] also known as the western yellowbelly racer^[2] or western racer,^[1] is a snake subspecies endemic to the Western United States, including California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Montana and Colorado.^{[3] [4]} It is a subspecies of the eastern racer. It is nonvenomous^[5] and is recognized by its long and very slender shape.^{[6] [7]} It is visually similar to the eastern yellow-bellied racer, which is also green, blue or brown with a recognizable yellow underside. Also named for its color, the western yellow-bellied racer is also gray with red or brown blotches when young.^{[8] [9]}

Notes and References

1. Wrobel, Murray (2004). Elsevier's Dictionary of Reptiles. Elsevier. Page 122. .
2. Degenhardt, William G. and Charles W. Painter (2005). Amphibians and Reptiles of New Mexico. UNM Press. Page 13. .
3. Booth, Douglas E. (2002). Searching for Paradise: Economic Development and Environmental Change in the Mountain West. Rowman & Littlefield. Page 123. .
4. Matsuda, Brent M. and David M. Green (2006). Amphibians and Reptiles of British Columbia. Royal BC Museum. Page 209. .
5. Mullally, Linda B. and David (2008). Best Hikes with Dogs: Central California. The Mountaineers Books. Page 27. .
6. Stace-Smith, Richard and Lois Johns (1980). Threatened and Endangered Species and Habitats in British Columbia and the Yukon: Proceedings of the Symposium. The Branch. Page 155. .
7. Brown, Philip (1997). A Field Guide to Snakes of California. Gulf Publishing Company. Page 58. .
8. Richardson, Adele (2003). North American Racer Snakes. Capstone. Page 15. .
9. Cox, Douglas C. and Wilmer W. Tanner (1995). Snakes of Utah. Brigham Young University. Page 28. .