In Arizona, there’s a common snake that people routinely see in their backyards, gardens, and garages. It’s amazingly colored: bright red! When seen, the born n’ raised locals all happily chime in “red racer!” and discuss how many they played with as a kid. If it’s under 10″, then it’s a baby red racer, and if it’s one of the big 5′ sightings, it’s obviously an adult red racer.

The problem? These are entirely different species of snakes, and neither is truly a racer, or even typically red.

The “baby red racers” are actually adult Western Groundsnakes. These are not the babies of the larger snakes with the actual name of Red Racer … a type of Coachwhip. These snakes couldn’t be more different. One is typically about as big as a pencil as an adult and doesn’t bite, the other is a big, fast, intelligent snake that will almost always bite when handled. How these two very distinct snakes end up being confused for one another comes down to two things: some of them are red, and people generally know very little details about the snakes, even if they’ve lived in the area for a lifetime.

Here’s a closer look at both of the “red racer” snakes an Arizona resident may find in the yard, and how confusing this simple term can be.

What’s A Groundsnake? Why Isn’t It A Red Racer?

The Western Groundsnake (Sonora semiannulata) is a tiny, entirely harmless species of snake that can take on a variety of forms. They are commonly found throughout even highly urbanized areas, able to thrive in the well-watered backyards and citrus-heavy landscaping of the Phoenix landscape.

Groundsnakes are incredibly variable, to the point where it can be hard to believe they’re even the same species. Within a single area, they may have sharply contrasting black and orange bands, be entirely orange, red, olive green with a red stripe down the back, solid grey, and more. Babies often have black heads, leading to misidentification as black-headed snakes (Tantilla sp.), and may lose it as they age … or not. There are no rules when it comes to groundsnakes.

So, some are red, but these are not red racers, baby or otherwise. Below are some photos of just some of the colors and patterns of Western Groundsnakes that can be found in Phoenix.

So What Is A Red Racer?

Red Racer is the common name of a subspecies of Coachwhip (Masticophis sp.) found in much of Arizona. It’s a snake that can take on many colors, from entirely black, to olive green, brown, and bright pink and red, and every combination in between. While coachwhips are often red, the colorful pink phase is the same subspecies as the black or olive snakes. So, an entirely black Coachwhip is a Red Racer, too.

But wait, there’s more! While Coachwhips are certainly very fast, they are not, in fact, racers. Racers are snakes of the genus Coluber, a superficially similar genus of snakes that are hardly known in Arizona from a handful of specimens in the far Eastern part of the state. Both Coachwhips and both species of whipsnakes are often referred to by locals as “racer”, when in fact neither actually are.

So, the common name “red racer” for a snake that is not actually a racer, and often not red, can be confusing. Even more complicated, there are racers, just not near Phoenix.

Just some of the looks that can be taken by the “red racer” subspecies of Coachwhip in the Phoenix area:

… But I’ve Called It A Red Racer My Entire Life!

You can continue to! But now you know it’s often incorrect. Colloquial names for animals are part of the local culture anywhere. But, it’s my opinion that this only goes so far, where multiple local names are only useful until the point where they misinform.

For example, in Arizona, the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox) is often referred to as a coon-tail rattlesnake, due to its distinct black-and-white banded tail. There’s no harm here, since a “coontailed rattler” refers to one thing, and does not mislead. If someone were to ask, “Have you seen any coontail rattlers?” I would know they are referring to a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake and say, “Yes,”.

But, in the states of Idaho, Montana, Colorado, and Utah, many locals talk about the diamondback rattlers that are common in the area. The only problem? There are no Diamondbacks in those states, and never have been! So someone who’s called the local rattlesnake species “diamondback” for a lifetime has just never known the real name. In this example, the colloquial name misinforms, as there is actually a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake, and to call a Great Basin Rattlesnake a diamondback is simply incorrect. If someone were to ask, while I’m in Idaho, “Have you seen any diamondbacks”?, I’d have to say no … but I did see a lot of Great Basin Rattlesnakes.

Think of colloquial names as nicknames. If your name is Robert, you might go by Rob, Robby, Bob, or Bobby, and all are correct … but it wouldn’t go on your birth certificate. But if someone were to come up to you and say “Hey Mike!”, you’d likely correct them. And, if that person then informed you that they grew up near you and they’d call you Mike their entire life: your name is still Robert.

Snakes Are Complicated, But Worth Learning About

Arizona is home to quite a few species of snakes, as you likely know if you’re reading an article on such a niche topic as this. Whether you’re a homeowner, hiker, or just challenging an old fear, learning about snakes is worth it. To get daily information about snakes you could find in your own backyard, join the Arizona Snake Identification and Questions group on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/azsnakeid