Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I found this on 118 in west texas. It's banded like an alterna. Has anyone seen anything like this?

Thanks, Brandon Bowers

Hey,

Yes I have seen them like that. And as I said earlier when i replyed you the pic you posted. Thats not a coachwhip. Its a central texas whipsnake(Masticophis taeniatus girardi). They are very beautiful snakes. They are in the group of masticophis, and related to the coachwhip but not the coachwhip. If you see pics there is a difference. I do think you have found a very cool phase though, I would call it the broad banded form of the central texas whipsnake. I hope I have helped. THANKS, WILLIAM H. AND THE GREEN PINE MUSEUM.
Green Pine Museum Website

I am usually out at night and am not super familiar with diurnal snakes, but the head of this snake looks to me different from the central tx whip. It's head's more bulky whereas the whipsnake seems to have more of a slender, less blocky head. You probably have more experience with them than me and you're probably correct, but i'd still like to know an exact description of the snakes you have seen. I, too have seen girardi that were sort of banded, but usually the bands are slightly triangular, and the colors are either black and gray, or dark gray and brown, and there are always stripes or remnants of stripes somwhere on the dorsum, which is clearly not the case with this snake.
thanks for the info,
Brandon Bowers

I'm 100 percent sure its a central texas whipsnake. Sometimes one coachwhip will have a slender head, and then another will have a fat one. Remember, most snakes have other color phases and patterns. Here is a picture of one of my Western Coachwhips(Masticophis flagellum testaceus). Just compare pattern and color. And you will see what I mean. THANKS, WILLIAM H. AND THE GREEN PINE MUSEUM.
''Red Phase'' Western Coachwhip(Broad Banded form)