Description: Long (to 6+ feet), slender, very alert, and very fast, this snake has a limited range in the USA. Big-scaled, this coachwhip is most often a dark pink with lighter pink bands. But like most coachwhips the color can vary to a solid black, black and pink, or yellowish. It prefers open terrain with enough cover to hide it and may often be seen along grassy roadsides. Occurs in extreme seAZ, intergrades with western coachwhip where it ranges about to the east. They often “periscope when hunting. Smooth scales. Oviparous. Hatchlings are dark with darker saddles.

Habitat: It prefers open terrain with enough cover to hide it and may often be seen along grassy roadsides. Capable of climbing, it does so ably and promptly if seeking prey or an avenue of escape.

Range: Found only in southeastern Arizona.

Found in these States: AZ

Diet: Prey of this snake includes nestlings of small mammals, birds, and lizards

Reproduction: 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.

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: