Colubridae
Red-Bellied Racer
HarmlessDolichophis schmidti
4 photographs of the Red-Bellied Racer. © Oleg Kosterin.
The Red-Bellied Racer (Dolichophis schmidti) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Red-Bellied Racer
Dolichophis schmidti, known commonly as the red-bellied racer and Schmidt's whip snake, is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Western Asia.
Geographic range
D. schmidti is found in the Caucasus and the Middle East, from Dagestan to Turkmenistan and south into Syria, Jordan, and northern Iran.
Habitat
D. schmidti occurs in a wide variety of habitats including rocky, stony and bushy river banks, deserts, semi-deserts, rocky outcrops, hillsides, montane steppe, cultivated fields, gardens, vineyards and other rural areas, from sea level to 2,000 m (6,600 ft). It can occur close to human habitation and tolerates human disturbance.
Diet
D. schmidti is often observed near to large colonies of rodents on which it preys. It also preys on lizards, birds, and snakes.
Reproduction
Adult females of D. schmidti lay clutches of between 5 and 11 eggs.
Etymology
The specific name, schmidti, is in honor of Russian ichthyologist Petr Yulevich Schmidt.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Red-Bellied Racer
- Is the Red-Bellied Racer venomous?
- No. The Red-Bellied Racer (Dolichophis schmidti) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Red-Bellied Racer poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Red-Bellied Racer is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Red-Bellied Racer dangerous?
- The Red-Bellied Racer is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- What does the Red-Bellied Racer eat?
- D. schmidti is often observed near to large colonies of rodents on which it preys. It also preys on lizards, birds, and snakes.
- Why is it called the Red-Bellied Racer?
- The specific name, schmidti, is in honor of Russian ichthyologist Petr Yulevich Schmidt.
More Colubridae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Dolichophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Dolichophis schmidti
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.