Western Coachwhip

Masticophus flagellum testaceus

Description:

A long, slender bodied snake that can range in color from black, brown, red, olive, to creamy.

Habitat:

Found in the western US and Mexico, they are often found in prairie habitats.

Notes:

When a coachwhip feels threatened, they will slither up a tree and look their attacker in the face. This guy didn't seem to mind climbing a cactus to look me in the face! Found in Crossbar Cooperative Management Area.

Species ID Suggestions

28 Comments (1–25)

AshleyT 11 years ago

Thanks :) They do have a lot of attitude! I have been bit by many of them, luckily they don't have a nasty bite to go along with their attitude :)

Cody.conway 11 years ago

Fantastic!! Coachwhips are the nonvenomous cobras of the US when it comes to attitude :-) The bigger they are the less they are scared for sure.

AshleyT 11 years ago

Thank you Evelyn :)

EvelynWilson 11 years ago

What a beautiful photograph!

AshleyT 11 years ago

Thanks Yuko!

YukoChartraw 11 years ago

Nice spot!

AshleyT 11 years ago

Thanks Fyn :)

Fyn Kynd 11 years ago

Awesome spot!

AshleyT 11 years ago

Thanks Phil :)

Phil_S 11 years ago

Fantastich shot!

AshleyT 11 years ago

Thanks everyone, I'm glad yall enjoy it :)

Ok Kevin since I agree with you on that I'll go ahead and put it, thanks!

LuisStevens 11 years ago

Great spot!

carlos.velazco 11 years ago

Very cool! I love the composition.

KevinBBabbitt 11 years ago

I would say western, the panhandle of OK is the western coachwhip.

AntónioGinjaGinja 11 years ago

beatifull Ashley,congrats and thanks for sharing

AshleyT 11 years ago

I want to say western, but I'm not positive so I didn't put it. Do you know which ones occur in the TX panhandle?

Thanks everyone :)

dunnjen5 11 years ago

Beautiful shot!

Gerardo Aizpuru 11 years ago

Wow great spot and shot :)

ChristyHolland 11 years ago

Great capture, Ashley!

LisaPowers 11 years ago

Do you know the subspecies on it?

AshleyT 11 years ago

Haha thanks Lisa! We released him and he just crawled over to this tree and climbed it and just sat their and stared at us, it was pretty cool. Helps that he is a super pretty coachwhip :)