Masticophis Explained

Masticophis is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly referred to as whip snakes or coachwhips, which are endemic to the Americas.^[1] They are characterized by having a long, thin body and are not dangerous to humans.

Distribution and habitat

Species of Masticophis are found in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.^[1]

Description

Adults of species in the genus Masticophis may attain a total length (including tail) from 152 cm (5 ft) for M. lateralis to 259 cm (8.5 ft) for M. flagellum. A distinctive character of this genus is the shape of the frontal scale (the large scale in the center of the upper surface of the head) which is bell-shaped and elongated. At the rear of the body, the dorsal scales are arranged in only 13 rows.^[2]

Species and subspecies

The genus Masticophis contains eleven species that are recognized as being valid, five of which have recognized subspecies.^[3]

• Masticophis anthonyi – Clarion Island whip snake
• Masticophis aurigulus – Baja California striped whip snake
• Masticophis barbouri – Baja California striped whip snake, Espiritu Santo striped whip snake
• Masticophis bilineatus – Sonoran whip snake
• Masticophis flagellum – coachwhip
  • Masticophis flagellum cingulum – Sonoran coachwhip
  • Masticophis flagellum flagellum – eastern coachwhip
  • Masticophis flagellum lineatulus – lined coachwhip
  • Masticophis flagellum piceus – red coachwhip
  • Masticophis flagellum ruddocki – San Joaquin coachwhip
  • Masticophis flagellum testaceus – western coachwhip
• Masticophis fuliginosus – Baja California coachwhip
• Masticophis lateralis – California whipsnake
  • Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus – Alameda striped racer
  • Masticophis lateralis lateralis – California striped racer

• Masticophis mentovarius – neotropical whip snake
  • Masticophis mentovarius centralis
  • Masticophis mentovarius mentovarius
  • Masticophis mentovarius suborbitalis
  • Masticophis mentovarius striolatus
  • Masticophis mentovarius variolosus
• Masticophis schotti – Schott's whip snake
  • Masticophis schotti ruthveni – Ruthven's whip snake
  • Masticophis schotti schotti – Schott's whip snake
• Masticophis slevini – Isla San Esteban whipsnake, San Esteban Island whipsnake
• Masticophis taeniatus – striped whip snake
  • Masticophis taeniatus girardi – Central Texas whip snake
  • Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus – desert striped whip snake

Nota bene

A binomial authority or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Masticophis.

Further reading

• Baird SF, Girard C (1853). Catalogue of North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Part I.—Serpents. Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian Institution. xvi + 172 pp. (Masticophis, new genus, p. 98).

External links

• https://serpientesdevenezuela.org/masticophis-mentovarius/

Notes and References

1. [Roger Conant (herpetologist)|Conant R]
2. [Hobart Muir Smith|Smith HM]
3. www.reptile-database.org.