Their scales are smooth and, in North Carolina, both their belly and dorsal side are black.
Most individuals have a white chin patch.
This is a common species that can be found across the state in most terrestrial environments. Racers breed from April to May and lay 5 to 25 eggs between June and August. The egg shells contain nodules that resemble salt in appearance. Sometimes several females lay eggs in the same nest. This species eats lizards, snakes, small rodents, amphibians, and insects.