Colubridae
Spotted Desert Racer
HarmlessPlatyceps karelini
4 photographs of the Spotted Desert Racer. © Mohammad Amin Ghaffari.
The Spotted Desert Racer (Platyceps karelini) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 14 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Spotted Desert Racer
Platyceps karelini, also known commonly as the spotted desert racer, is a species of snake in the subfamily Colubrinae of the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Asia.
Geographic range
Platyceps karelini is found in Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
Habitat
Platyceps karelini is found in a variety of habitats, including shrubland, grassland, rocky areas, and dessert, at elevations of 1,600–2,000 m (5,200–6,600 ft).
Description
Platyceps karelini exhibits sexual dimorphism, with females being larger than males. Females may attain a total length of 94 cm (37 in), including a tail 23 centimetres (9.1 in) long. Males may attain a total length of 83.5 cm (32.9 in), with a tail 22.5 cm (8.9 in) long.
Dorsally, it is pale gray or tan, with a series of black crossbars, which are narrower than the spaces between them. Some individuals lack the crossbars, and instead have an orange vertebral stripe. Ventrally, it is whitish, pinkish, or yellowish.
Reproduction
Platyceps karelini is oviparous.
Subspecies
There are three subspecies of Platyceps karelini which are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Platyceps karelini chesneii (Martin, 1838)
Platyceps karelini karelini (Brandt, 1838)
Platyceps karelini mintonorum (Mertens, 1969)
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Platyceps.
Etymology
The specific name, karelini, is in honor of Russian naturalist Grigory Karelin. The subspecific name, mintonorum, is in honor of American herpetologist Sherman A. Minton and his wife Madge Alice Shortridge Rutherford Minton.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Spotted Desert Racer
- Is the Spotted Desert Racer venomous?
- No. The Spotted Desert Racer (Platyceps karelini) 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 Spotted Desert Racer poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Spotted Desert Racer is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Spotted Desert Racer dangerous?
- The Spotted Desert Racer is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Spotted Desert Racer live?
- The Spotted Desert Racer has verified records in 14 countries, including Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Iran (Islamic Republic of). See the distribution section below for its full range.
- Why is it called the Spotted Desert Racer?
- The specific name, karelini, is in honor of Russian naturalist Grigory Karelin. The subspecific name, mintonorum, is in honor of American herpetologist Sherman A. Minton and his wife Madge Alice Shortridge Rutherford Minton.
Where it is found
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
- Platyceps
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Platyceps karelini
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.