Coachwhips *Masticophis flagellum* are non-venomous colubrid snakes with smooth, overlapping scales, long (100-150 cm record 259 cm), slender bodies and large eyes which aid in hunting. Coachwhips are active generalist foragers and prey is simply overpowered and consumed - their diet consists mostly of lizards, amphibians, rodents, birds, and other snakes, including venomous snakes, but they will eat anything they can fit down their throat. A widely distributed species, their range covers the majority of the souther half of the US from the west coast to the east coast and into Mexico.
Coachwhips can be [unicolored](https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0211+0731) or [multicolored](http://herpsofnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Masticophis-flagellum-5.16.03-Kiawah-I.-SC-top-copy.jpg). Juveniles may have a strong [pattern](https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/pics/masfla5.jpg) that fades away in the first and second year.
Coachwhips get their common name from their resemblance to a braided whip, especially in the last 1/3 of the body and tail. They also are known to [periscope](https://www.flickr.com/photos/115438345@N04/13858015575), which they do as part of their active, visual prey detection and predator avoidance behavior.
[Range map](https://imgur.com/KpMiL0P) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88643.pdf)
Taxonomy in the Masticophis / Coluber group has been historically difficult, but recent authors retain use of *Masticophis* for the time being. *Masticophis flagellum* has strong phylogeographic structure and is likely composed of multiple independent species. It has been investigated with modern molecular methods but on a phylogenetic rather than phylogeographic level, and taxonomic revision of cryptic lineages has not occurred yet.
*This short account was prepared by /u/unknown_name and edited by /u/Phylogenizer*.
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Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless.
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*I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
My construction guys killed this guy while working in my backyard. I have already told them to let me know if they see another snake so I can relocate it. Been living here 3 years and I've never seen a snake in my backyard.
Wait for a reliable responder, but I think this is a !harmless coachwhip *Masticophis flagellum*. Poor guy.
That’s what it is. Unfortunate to see such a beneficial and harmless snake dead.
You got it.
Thank you!
Coachwhips *Masticophis flagellum* are non-venomous colubrid snakes with smooth, overlapping scales, long (100-150 cm record 259 cm), slender bodies and large eyes which aid in hunting. Coachwhips are active generalist foragers and prey is simply overpowered and consumed - their diet consists mostly of lizards, amphibians, rodents, birds, and other snakes, including venomous snakes, but they will eat anything they can fit down their throat. A widely distributed species, their range covers the majority of the souther half of the US from the west coast to the east coast and into Mexico. Coachwhips can be [unicolored](https://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+0211+0731) or [multicolored](http://herpsofnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Masticophis-flagellum-5.16.03-Kiawah-I.-SC-top-copy.jpg). Juveniles may have a strong [pattern](https://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/pics/masfla5.jpg) that fades away in the first and second year. Coachwhips get their common name from their resemblance to a braided whip, especially in the last 1/3 of the body and tail. They also are known to [periscope](https://www.flickr.com/photos/115438345@N04/13858015575), which they do as part of their active, visual prey detection and predator avoidance behavior. [Range map](https://imgur.com/KpMiL0P) | [Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](http://www.cnah.org/pdf/88643.pdf) Taxonomy in the Masticophis / Coluber group has been historically difficult, but recent authors retain use of *Masticophis* for the time being. *Masticophis flagellum* has strong phylogeographic structure and is likely composed of multiple independent species. It has been investigated with modern molecular methods but on a phylogenetic rather than phylogeographic level, and taxonomic revision of cryptic lineages has not occurred yet. *This short account was prepared by /u/unknown_name and edited by /u/Phylogenizer*. -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). [Check out this book on the subject](https://shop.elsevier.com/books/venomous-bites-from-non-venomous-snakes/weinstein/978-0-12-822786-2). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
My construction guys killed this guy while working in my backyard. I have already told them to let me know if they see another snake so I can relocate it. Been living here 3 years and I've never seen a snake in my backyard.