5% of the profits support Endangered & Threatened Species.
Meet the stunning, non-venomous Speckled Racer (Drymobius margaritiferus). The specific name of this snake, margaritiferus, means "pearl-bearing" in Latin, referring to the pearl-like spots on the dorsal scales.
©Juliet Whitsett |Social: @juliet_whitsett_art
COLOR PALETTE SAMPLED FROM IMAGES OF THE SPECKLED RACER:
SPECIES INFO:
"Many animals reach the northern limits of their range in south Texas. One such species, the speckled racer, is restricted to remnant subtropical forest patches in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Arguably one of Texas’ most spectacular snakes, this observant serpent can be found basking in dappled sunlight adjacent to dense forest thickets into which it retreats and uses as shelter from suspicious activity. As the forest patches along the Rio Grande become more isolated and smaller, primarily due to urban development and energy infrastructure, so too do the chances that this snake will continue to call Texas home."
- Paul Crump, PhD, Wildlife Ecologist
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The speckled racer is a fast one, and as I understand it, its scale pattern assists it as both predator and prey.
According to Herpedia.com It has a "streamlined black body with greenish cast. Dart-sharped yellow spot occupies the central area of each back scale; concealed front edge of each scale is blue, the exposed rear edge is black. A black stripe is behind the eye. The scales are weakly keeled in 17 rows with the anal plate being divided."
Habitat: Found in dense thickets and palm groves with plenty of plant debris, this snake is almost always near a water source.
The patterning serves as both camouflage when hunting, as well as a disorienting, optically challenging defense mechanism to escape predation.
Adult Size: 30" to 50"
Breeding: about 2 to 8 1½" eggs are laid from April to July and hatch in 2 months. Hatchlings are approximately 6 inches in length and reach maturity in 2-3 years.
WATCH:
SHOP this art: HERE OR gift to the Threatened Texas Series: Venmo @Juliet-Whitsett (Your patronage donation helps spread the word about Texas' Endangered & Threatened Species).
RANGE:
This species ranges throughout Central America from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and Yucatán Peninsula southward to Panama and adjacent areas of northwest Colombia, occurring at elevations from sea level up to 4,750 feet (1,453 m.). Northward it is found in the coastal lowlands and lower exterior slopes of the Sierra Madres of Mexico, up the west coast to Sonora, and up the east coast to northern Tamaulipas. The northern limit of its distribution ranges into extreme south Texas, USA where it is uncommon to rare in a few of the southernmost counties of the state.
THREATENED TEXAS SERIES:
There are 148 Threatened Species & 74 Threatened Species in Texas. Each palette & species is unique. I have sampled colors from images of actual Texas Threatened Species and created original art inspired by each group. 5% of the profits from this series enthusiastically goes to help Threatened & Endangered Species.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
Wonder what you can do to help? One easy thing I have found is to write my US house Rep. and ask them to support The Recovering America's Wildlife Act RAWA Find out more at https://www.txwildlifealliance.org/or if you aren't in Texas, https://ournatureusa.com/
SOURCES:
herpedia.com