Roadside racer

I pulled over on a dirt road the other day to make a phone call and having finished my chat, heard a rustle in the vegetation nearby. This curious and big Antillean racer was watching me intently.

This is the anegadan subspecies; Alsophis porturicensis anegadae and would eat skinks, ameiva and perhaps (but hopefully not) the odd rare iguana hatchling. Though treated as non-venomous, it seems these guys probably have a mild venom that will knock over small lizards and mammals (and occasionally cause swelling in bitten humans). Speaking of small lizards, tomorrow I hope to photograph something amazingly cool to show you all - if it doesn't happen tomorrow it won't happen at all so keep your fingers crossed for me.