Description: Coachwhip snakes are one of the most varied snake species in North America. They are distinctly classified by their smooth scales. There are variations on the physical presentation of the species that correlate with the geographic placement of the population. Generally, the species' populations located on the eastern side of the Mississippi River vary from those on the western side. Though there are variations between and within subspecies, their colorations lend towards camouflage. Coachwhip snakes generally presents as dark brown on the anterior, dorsum portion of their body, while the midline, venter is red or pink. Coachwhip snakes are one of the largest snakes in North America, with adults ranging from 91.4 to 259 cm measured snout to vent.

Coachwhip scales are patterned so at first glance, the snake appears braided. Subspecies can be difficult to distinguish in areas where their ranges overlap

Habitat: Coachwhips are commonly found in open areas with sandy soil, open pine forests, old fields, and prairies. They thrive in sandhill scrub and coastal dunes.

Range: Masticophis f. lineatulus occurs in extreme southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico and extreme western Texas.

Found in these States: AZ | NM | TX

Diet: Coachwhip snakes are a nonvenomous species. Their diet consists primarily of lizards, other snakes, insects, birds and their eggs, and infrequently various amphibians. Researchers have documented instances where coachwhips have consumed rodents as well as carrion, but it is done rarely. Coachwhip snakes are a foraging species and actively search for their prey. Right after hibernation, coachwhip snakes are active primarily in midday. As their active season progresses, they increase their time spent moving, preferring the midmornings and late afternoons for foraging. Coachwhip snakes move an estimated 186 m/day. They move from spots of vegetation to burrows, foraging for their prey.

Coachwhips rely on visual and olfactory senses to capture their prey. They can perceive chemicals emitted from the integumentary system of their prey, with such precision as to be able to distinguish species they prey upon from those that are not prey. Coachwhips flick their tongues and present attack behaviors when they process chemicals from their preferred prey. Their most common prey, lizard and snake, elicit the strongest response. Once the prey has been located, coachwhips rely on their speed to capture the animal. As the fastest snake on the North American continent, with a maximum speed of 5.8 kph, capturing prey is made less complicated.

Reproduction: Male coachwhip snakes seek out a breeding partner and initiate courting behaviors that instigate copulation. Males will display aggressive behaviors, such as flicking of the tongue, to assert dominance and ensure copulation with females. Courting behavior preceding copulation has been recorded to last 4 to 90 minutes while copulation lasts 15 minutes to 130 minutes. Females are polyandrous, breeding with several males during the breeding interval. Males have been observed defending a female they have mated with from other males, attempting to prevent further copulations. To have the greatest chance of copulation, male coachwhip snakes may defend a location from other male coachwhip snakes during the breeding season. This territorial behavior is not present outside of the breeding season. Once copulation and gestation periods have completed, female coachwhip snakes commonly lay their eggs in a nest located inside of a small animal burrow.

Coachwhip snakes are oviparous and iteroparous. They breed once a year between June and August. Males reach maturity at age 1, but it's unlikely he'd be successful in mating until age 3. Females also reach reproductive maturity at age 3. The female gestational period is an average of 77.5 days. Coachwhip snakes lay between 4-24 eggs, with an average of 11 eggs each clutch. The eggs are oblong and white with a granular surface, approximately 35-48 mm in length and 17.8-26.3 mm in width. Coachwhip snakes are not dependent upon a parent after they hatch.

Coachwhip snakes reproduce sexually with the males playing an active role in the process. Female snakes have been shown to display a significantly less active lifestyle than their male counterparts in the height of breeding season, with males being more active throughout the day than females. This difference in activity level dissipates as the breeding season ends, while males and females are equally as active. Snakes hatch independent from caregivers. The female coachwhip snakes lay eggs in the protection of small animal burrows in the ground. There, the eggs remain until they hatch.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its extremely wide distribution, presumed large population, no major threats, and because its population is not currently in decline.

Taxonomy: