Racer Snake

Description:

There are three species of Racer snakes in Cayman, but I didn't get a good enough look at its body in its entirety, so I cannot be sure which of the three it is. The basic color is grey with small dark blotches on the sides. When alarmed, the snake will expand its throat, inflating the size of its head. It is the primary predator of Cuban tree frogs and also eats nestlings and rats. They are non-venomous.

Habitat:

Ground snake that is indigenous to Cayman Islands. It is both ground dwelling and arboreal; this makes the snake very successful in inhabiting such a small island with limited resources.

Notes:

I spotted this snake on the Mastic Nature trail, lurking about in a little puddle of water in a limestone rock.