The Striped Whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus) is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake that is closely related to the California Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis). It is
The Striped Whipsnake (Masticophis taeniatus) is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake that is closely related to the California Whipsnake (Masticophis lateralis). It is native to the western United States and northern Mexico.
The Striped Whipsnake is approximately 30-72 inches (76–183 cm) in length. This snake exhibits black, dark brown, or gray coloration on its back. Across each of the first four dorsal scales rows, it often has an olive or bluish tint. 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, and the anal scale is divided.
The Striped Whipsnake is found all throughout the western United States and northern Mexico. The farthest north part of their range is in south central Washington and moves south into the great basin between the Cascade-Sierran crest and the continental divide. The range then continues southeast across the continental divide into New Mexico and western and central Texas. The farthest south part of the range lies in Michoacan, Mexico. In the Western United states the range also extends outside of the great basin into the Rogue River Valley in South Western Oregon and Northern California.
The Striped Whipsnake is commonly found in a wide variety of habitats including shrub lands, grasslands, sagebrush flats, canyons,