Masticophis flagellum
Ordinary coachman whip snake ( Coluber flagellum )
The Ordinary coachman whip snake ( Coluber flagellum, formerly Masticophis flagellum ) is a non-poisonous snakes - style that makes six subspecies. The subspecies Coluber flagellum ruddocki was placed under protection because of the threat of its kind in California.
Dissemination
The snakes are native to the southern United States and northern Mexico. They live in open woods and on the edge of the steppes and semi-deserts.
Description
The small, slightly rounded head with large eyes and round pupils, is hardly on the neck. The yellow iris surrounds the pupil dark. The coloration of the scales varies in different browns and grays. An adult ordinary coachman whip snake can reach a length of about 160 cm.
Behavior
The diurnal snake feeds primarily on lizards, small rodents or birds. Some of them also feeds on other snakes. The Ordinary coachman whip snake mates in the spring. The eight to 16 eggs the female lays in a shallow Erdmulde. After about 60 days the hatch about 30 cm long queues. The young snakes feed on the first time of small animals and insects. The snake is up to 18 years old.
Subspecies
Six subspecies of ordinary coachman whip snake can be distinguished:
- Coluber flagellum flagellum ( Shaw, 1802)
- Coluber flagellum lineatulus (Smith, 1941)
- Coluber flagellum piceus ( Cope, 1892)
- Coluber flagellum ruddocki ( Bratt Power & Warren, 1953)
- Coluber flagellum testaceus (Say, 1823)
The earlier f as a subspecies C. fuliginosus ( Cope, 1895 ) guided animals were recognized by Grismer in 1994 as a separate species Coluber fuliginosus.