Striped Whipsnake
Striped whip snake ( Coluber taeniatus )
The striped whip snake ( Coluber taeniatus, formerly Masticophis taeniatus ) belongs to the genus of anger snakes ( Coluber ) and therefore to the snakes ( Colubridae ). She lives in the western U.S. and reaches a body length of about 1.80 meters.
Appearance
The striped whip snake is built like the other Coachwhips long and very slender. It reaches a body length of one meter to 1.80 meters. Your basic color varies from gray to blue-green and red-brown to black. On both sides of the body are two lighter colored stripes that stretch over the entire length. The large head scales are outlined in white and the body scales are arranged in 15 rows.
Distribution and habitat
The striped whip snake lives in the western U.S.. Their range extends from Washington State to the Great Basin and New Mexico and parts of Texas. You find them in steppes and arid plains and in mountainous areas up to an altitude of about 3000 meters.
Way of life
The snakes feed on lizards, small snakes and small mammals and birds. Their main predators represent hawks represents the whip snakes are very fast in their locomotion, they respect raised her head to get a better overview. To escape predators, the animals disappear very quickly in columns or caves in the ground or climb trees. They hunt during the day and are very skilled. To their prey while included major lizards and small rattlesnakes.
The pairing of the animals takes place in the spring, the three to 12 eggs are laid in June or July in a nest. This often abandoned dwellings of small mammals are used. The hatching in August pups are about 40 inches long. Sexual maturity attain the males after one or two years, the female after three years.
Subspecies
It will be out four subspecies of striped whip snake:
- Coluber taeniatus australis Smith 1941
- Coluber taeniatus girardi ( Stejneger & Barbour 1917)
- Coluber taeniatus ornatus Baird & Girard 1853
- Coluber taeniatus taeniatus ( Hallowell 1852)