Coachwhips Masticophis flagellum are non-venomous colubrid snakes with smooth, overlapping scales, long (100-150 cm record 259 cm), slender bodies and large eyes which aid in hunting. Coachwhips are active generalist foragers and prey is simply overpowered and consumed - their diet consists mostly of lizards, amphibians, rodents, birds, and other snakes, including venomous snakes, but they will eat anything they can fit down their throat. A widely distributed species, their range covers the majority of the souther half of the US from the west coast to the east coast and into Mexico.
Coachwhips can be unicolored or multicolored. Juveniles may have a strong pattern that fades away in the first and second year.
Coachwhips get their common name from their resemblance to a braided whip, especially in the last 1/3 of the body and tail. They also are known to periscope, which they do as part of their active, visual prey detection and predator avoidance behavior.
Range map | Relevant/Recent Phylogeography
Taxonomy in the Masticophis / Coluber group has been historically difficult, but recent authors retain use of Masticophis for the time being. Masticophis flagellum has strong phylogeographic structure and is likely composed of multiple independent species. It has been investigated with modern molecular methods but on a phylogenetic rather than phylogeographic level, and taxonomic revision of cryptic lineages has not occurred yet.
This short account was prepared by /u/unknown_name and edited by /u/Phylogenizer.
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Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, non-venomous snakes can use them to bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes Diadophis are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes Thamnophis ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also considered harmless. Even large species such as Malayopython reticulatus rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans so are usually categorized as harmless.
