Red-bellied racer
Dolichophis schmidti
A fast, non-venomous racer with a copper or reddish back and a distinctive red–orange belly — native to the dry landscapes of eastern Georgia.
Overview
What is Red-bellied racer
The red-bellied racer (Dolichophis schmidti), also called Schmidt's whip snake, is a non-venomous, fast species of the family Colubridae. It was described in 1909 by A. Nikolsky; the name honors Russian ichthyologist Petr Yulevich Schmidt. It occurs across the Caucasus and the Middle East — from Dagestan to Turkmenistan, and south into Syria, Jordan, and northern Iran; in Georgia mainly in dry, rocky, and grassy habitats of the east. Adults are often a uniform copper or reddish-brown, with a red or orange belly; juveniles have a dark-spotted dorsal pattern. Length is usually up to about 1–1.5 m (roughly 82–158 cm has been recorded in Georgia). It is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN.
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Identification
How to identify Red-bellied racer
The red-bellied racer is a fast, non-venomous snake of eastern Georgia. Belly color is the key field mark and separates it from the Caspian racer.
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The belly is red to orange — the species’ main identification trait.
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Adults often have a fairly uniform reddish or copper back; juveniles are more blotched.
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The body is slender and fast; length is roughly 1–1.5 m.
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The pupil is round; it has no venom.
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It lives in dry, rocky, and grassy landscapes of eastern Georgia.
Quiz
Next: which snake is it?
Red-bellied racer is in the Georgia snake quiz. Ten field photos, four names — eye practice, not field ID.
Biology
Habitat, diet, behavior, and conservation
Habitat and range
It is eurytopic: it inhabits rocky and stony riverbanks, deserts and semi-deserts, rocky outcrops and hillsides, montane steppe, cultivated fields, gardens, and vineyards — from sea level to roughly 2,000 m. It can occur near human habitation and uses anthropogenic structures. In Georgia it depends on a relatively dry climate and is found mainly in the rocky–grassy landscapes of the east.
Diet
It is often observed near large rodent colonies, on which it primarily preys; it also feeds on lizards, birds, and other snakes. It is a fast pursuer and actively chases prey; it has no venom.
Behavior
It is diurnal — a fast, agile racer. When threatened it prefers to flee, though if cornered it may defend itself aggressively; it remains harmless to humans. Adults often have a uniform reddish dorsum, while juveniles are spotted; the distinctive red–orange belly gives the species its name and helps separate it from the Caspian whip snake (Dolichophis caspius). It is egg-laying: females lay roughly 5–11 eggs. In Georgia, large communal wintering in anthropogenic shelters has been documented — more than a hundred individuals in a single hibernaculum.
Conservation
Classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List; it also holds LC status in Georgia. Its range is broad and the species tolerates human-altered landscapes. Local threats include habitat conversion, road mortality, and killing due to confusion with venomous snakes. It benefits the ecosystem by reducing rodent numbers.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the most important questions about Red-bellied racer.
No — it is non-venomous and harmless to humans. It is fast and prefers to flee when threatened; if cornered it may defend itself, but it poses no real danger.
Mainly in the dry, rocky, and grassy landscapes of eastern Georgia — steppes, rocky slopes, vineyards, and near settlements. Vertically it occurs from sea level to roughly 2,000 m.
The red-bellied racer has a distinctive red or orange belly; adults are often copper/reddish. The Caspian whip snake (Dolichophis caspius) has different belly coloration and is treated as a separate species in Georgia.
Mainly rodents — it often hunts near their colonies; also lizards, birds, and other snakes. It has no venom — it catches prey with speed and force.
It is egg-laying. The female lays roughly 5–11 eggs; young hatch independently.
- Tarkhnishvili et al. 2026 — Annotated checklist of Georgia's amphibians and reptiles
- IUCN Red List
- GBIF
- The Reptile Database
Species profiles are compiled from peer-reviewed literature and established biodiversity databases, and are reviewed as new taxonomic and conservation data become available.
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