The Coachwhip Snake is a species of colubrid snake that is native to parts of the United States and Mexico.
This is a non-venomous species of snake that can grow to 4-6 feet in length.
They are sometimes referred to as the Whip Snake but this can lead to confusion as there are other species that go by that name also.
Coachwhip Snake Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The Coachwhip Snake belongs to the Colubridae or Colubrid family of snakes. This is the largest family of Snakes in the world consisting of many popular species such as Pine Snakes and Milk Snakes.
With around 250 different genera of Colubrids, these snakes can be found on every continent except Antarctica which also makes them the most widely distributed family of snake in the world.
The vast majority of Colubrid snakes are non-venomous, or at least contain a venom that isn’t considered to be medically significant to humans.
However, there are a number of species of Colubrid snakes that contain venom capable of killing humans. This includes species from the Boiga and Rhabdophis genera as well as other snakes such as the Boomslang.
Genus
The genus that the Coachwhip Snake belongs to is called Masticophis. The species in this genus are commonly referred to as Whip Snakes.
The species in this genus have a distinctive bell-shaped frontal scale. The frontal scale is the large scale in the centre of the snakes head.
For a long time, this species was classified under the Coluber genus. It was moved to Masticophis in 2009 but some literature still describe it as Coluber.
Species
The scientific name for the Coachwhip Snake is Masticophis flagellum and there are currently 6 recognised sub-species.
The species was first described in 1802 by an English zoologist named George Shaw.
Some of the sub-species include the Eastern Coachwhip, the Western Coachwhip and the Sonoran Coachwhip.
Coachwhip Snake Description
The Coachwhip Snake can vary greatly in appearance depending on the sub-species and location the snake was found so it can be difficult to give a definitive description of them.
One common feature among the different sub-species are smooth scales. Coloration can vary depending on location as they blend in with the natural surroundings in their habitat.
For example, the Eastern Coachwhip Snake is very dark in color. It is darkest in the Northern parts of its range and tends to lighten as you move further South.
The Sonoran Coachwhip Snake can vary in color from tan, grey, pinkish, black or reddish-brown. It can also have a combination of these colors with broad crossband patterning.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Coachwhip Snake has a very large geographical distribution. These snakes can be found throughout most of the Southern half of the United States and much of Mexico.
In the United States, they can be found in California and Nevada with their range extending down into Arizona and New Mexico.
Theses snakes are very common in Texas and can also be found further North in places such as Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri.
In the South-Eastern United States, the Coachwhip Snake can be found in places such as Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina.
In Mexico, these snakes can be found throughout most of the Northern half of the country with their range extending as far South as Mexico City.
This species shares some of its geographical range with many well known species including the Florida Softshell Turtle, the Brown Water Snake, the Green Anole, the Rainbow Snake, the Coachwhip Snake, the Yellow Bellied Slider and the Peninsula Cooter.
The Coachwhip Snake likes to live in dry, open terrain such as deserts, scrubland, farmland and prairies.
However, these snakes thrive in a wide variety of habitats and can also be found in places such as woodlands, thorn forests, creeks and can even occasionally be found around swamps.
Coachwhip Snake Behaviour
The Coachwhip Snake is a diurnal species of snake, meaning they are mostly active during the day and sleep during the night.
These snakes tend to enjoy the heat and generally don’t retreat to shade during the warmest parts of the day.
They do however, hibernate during the colder winter months. The length of time they hibernate for can vary depending on the location of the snake.
While these snakes prefer to spend most of their time on the ground, they are highly adaptable and will occasionally climb low lying trees or retreat into burrows. They are even very capable swimmers, although this isn’t something they tend to do.