Masticophis
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Masticophis is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly referred to as whip snakes or coachwhips, which are endemic to the Americas.[1] They are characterized by having a long, thin body and are not dangerous to humans.
Distribution and habitat
Species of Masticophis are found in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.[1]
Description
Adults of species in the genus Masticophis may attain a total length (including tail) from 152 cm (5 ft) for M. lateralis to 259 cm (8.5 ft) for M. flagellum. A distinctive character of this genus is the shape of the frontal scale (the large scale in the center of the upper surface of the head) which is bell-shaped and elongated. At the rear of the body, the dorsal scales are arranged in only 13 rows.[2]
Species and subspecies
The genus Masticophis contains eleven species that are recognized as being valid, five of which have recognized subspecies.[3]
- Masticophis anthonyi (Stejneger, 1901)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Clarion Island whip snake
- Masticophis aurigulus (Cope, 1861)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Baja California striped whip snake
- Masticophis barbouri (Van Denburgh & Slevin, 1921)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Baja California striped whip snake, Espiritu Santo striped whip snake
- Masticophis bilineatus Jan, 1863Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Sonoran whip snake
- Masticophis flagellum (Shaw, 1802)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – coachwhip
- Masticophis flagellum cingulum Lowe & Woodin, 1954Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Sonoran coachwhip
- Masticophis flagellum flagellum (Shaw, 1802)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – eastern coachwhip
- Masticophis flagellum lineatulus H.M. Smith, 1941Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – lined coachwhip
- Masticophis flagellum piceus (Cope, 1892)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – red coachwhip
- Masticophis flagellum ruddocki Brattstrom & Warren, 1953Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – San Joaquin coachwhip
- Masticophis flagellum testaceus (Say, 1823)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – western coachwhip
- Masticophis fuliginosus (Cope, 1895)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Baja California coachwhip
- Masticophis lateralis (Hallowell, 1853Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – California whipsnake
- Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus Riemer, 1954Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Alameda striped racer
- Masticophis lateralis lateralis (Hallowell, 1853)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – California striped racer
- Masticophis mentovarius (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – neotropical whip snake
- Masticophis mentovarius centralis (Roze, 1953)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Masticophis mentovarius mentovarius (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Masticophis mentovarius suborbitalis (W. Peters, 1868)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Masticophis mentovarius striolatus (Mertens, 1934)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Masticophis mentovarius variolosus H.M. Smith, 1943Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Masticophis schotti Baird & Girard, 1853Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Schott's whip snake
- Masticophis schotti ruthveni Ortenburger, 1923Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Ruthven's whip snake
- Masticophis schotti schotti Baird & Girard, 1853Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Schott's whip snake
- Masticophis slevini (Lowe & Norris, 1955)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Isla San Esteban whipsnake, San Esteban Island whipsnake
- Masticophis taeniatus (Hallowell, 1852)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – striped whip snake
- Masticophis taeniatus girardi (Stejneger & Barbour, 1917)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – Central Texas whip snake
- Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus (Hallowell, 1852)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". – desert striped whip snake
Nota bene: A binomial authority or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Masticophis.
References
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- ↑ a b Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. Template:ISBN (paperback). (Genus Masticophis, pp. 177-178).
- ↑ Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. Template:ISBN (paperback). (Genus Masticophis, pp. 190-193).
- ↑ Genus Masticophis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Further reading
- Baird SF, Girard C (1853). Catalogue of North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Part I.—Serpents. Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian Institution. xvi + 172 pp. (Masticophis, new genus, p. 98).