The striped whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus) is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. It is closely related to the California whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis). The striped whipsnake is native to the western United States and adjacent northern Mexico.

Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...
Striped whipsnake
Desert striped whipsnake, Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Masticophis
Species:
M. taeniatus
Binomial name
Masticophis taeniatus
(Hallowell, 1852)
Subspecies

Two, see text.

Synonyms[2][3]
  • Leptophis taeniata
    Hallowell, 1852
  • Masticophis taeniatus
    Baird & Girard, 1853
  • Coluber taeniatus
    Garman, 1883
  • Zamenis taeniatus
    Cope, 1900
  • Masticophis taeniatus
    Stebbins, 1985
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Identification

The striped whipsnake is approximately 30-72 inches (76–183 cm) in total length (including tail). This snake exhibits black, dark brown, or gray coloration on its back, often with an olive or bluish tint. Along the center of each of the first four rows of pale dorsal scales, is a dark longitudinal stripe. There is a white to cream-colored stripe down its side that is bisected by either a solid or dashed black line. The coloring on the snake's belly tends to be cream to yellowish, fading to white toward the head, and coral pink toward the tail. This snake also features a lower preocular between the upper labial scales of the mouth. The anal scale is divided.[citation needed]

Geographic range

The striped whipsnake is found throughout the western United States and northern Mexico. The northernmost part of its geographic range is in south central Washington, and continues southward into the Great Basin between the Cascade-Sierran crest and the continental divide. Its range then continues southeast across the continental divide into New Mexico and western and central Texas. The southernmost part of its range lies in Michoacán, Mexico. In the Western United States its range also extends outside of the Great Basin into the Rogue River Valley in southwestern Oregon and northern California. There is a population in Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah and Maryland.[citation needed]

Habitat

The striped whipsnake is commonly found in a wide variety of habitats including shrublands, grasslands, sagebrush flats, canyons, piñon-juniper woodlands, and open pine-oak forests. It is attracted to both permanent and seasonal rocky streams,[1] and it frequents both flatlands and mountains.[citation needed]

Behavior

The species M. taeniatus is diurnal, active during the day, and is very alert and fast moving. It seeks shelter in rock outcrops, small mammal burrows, as well as in trees and shrubs depending on the habitat it occupies. This snake is nonvenomous, but it preys on a wide variety of species including lizards, other snakes (including venomous rattlesnakes), small mammals, young birds, frogs, and insects.[citation needed]

Reproduction

The striped whipsnake is oviparous.[1][3] Little is known about the reproductive activities of M. taeniatus. After fertilization the female striped whipsnake will lay a clutch of 3-12 eggs, between the months of June and July,[citation needed] usually in an abandoned rodent burrow.[1] One study has shown a natural incubation period of 44 to 58 days.[citation needed]

Subspecies

There are two subspecies of Masticophis taeniatus which are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[3]

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Masticophis.

Etymology

The subspecific name, girardi, is in honor of French-American herpetologist Charles Frédéric Girard.[4]

References

Further reading

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