Reptile & Amphibian Forums

This snake has been seen more than once hanging around our wholesale nursery but it doesnt look like our regular snakes? He's very beautiful but I need to know if he's non-poinsonous.

Coachwhip (masticophis flagellum). Pretty one at that. Very fast, nonvenomous, eat small rodents, birds, lizards and whatever else they can catch. Andy
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Andy Maddox
The Reptizone

Who are you who can say it's ok to live through me? Alice In Chains

de dele de

Masticophis flagellum testaceus. It looks like one of the individuals from the Big Bend or Trans Pecos regions of Texas, East Central New Mexico and part of southern Colorado. This is the red phase Western Coachwhip, which itself comes in 2 phases, the narrow banded phase like this one and the broad banded phase (uncommmon).

They are difficult to catch, but when you do finally get it cornered and get your hands on it, it's quite entertaining...you will be nearly as red as the snake from the blood it draws. They are non-venomous, but they don't know that.

Most colubrids bite & release an enemy. Coachwhips bite, clamp down, & pull back, leaving lacerations instead of small neat holes. It was several years before I realized that the easterns (f.flagellum) came in any size under seven feet.

~~Greg~~

The red coachwhips in Western Texas may show banding, but it is usually broad dark bands, not these narrow black bands towards the head.

This snake looks more like a Red "Racer" (coachwhip) to me (M.f. piceus). That this the subspecies that is usually pinkish red with narrow black bands anteriorly and a tan or black head.

Where was the picture taken? I suspect western AZ, SoCal or even So Nevada.
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Chris Harrison

Here is a shot of a "red" western coachwhip (M.f.testaceus) from west Texas. The one that is pictured in the original post looks to be the different subspecies not found in Texas...