Coachwhip / Whipsnake
Mexican Whip Snake
HarmlessMasticophis lineatus
The Mexican Whip Snake (Masticophis lineatus) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 11 countries.
- Also called
- Coachwhip / Whipsnake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- Very slender, 3–6 ft.
- Habitat
- Open deserts, grasslands, and scrub.
- Behavior
- Fast, alert, day-active visual hunters that flee rapidly when approached.
- Identify
- Long, whip-thin body; coachwhips often show a braided-whip tail pattern.
About the Mexican Whip Snake
The Mexican Whip Snake belongs to the Colubridae family, colubrids. The largest snake family, and the one most snakes you meet belong to.
Colubridae is by far the biggest family of snakes, with roughly two thousand species worldwide. It is a catch-all of mostly slender, agile, day-active snakes: ratsnakes, kingsnakes, gartersnakes, watersnakes, racers, whipsnakes, and hundreds more. The vast majority are harmless to people and kill prey by grabbing or constricting rather than with venom.
Its genus, Masticophis, covers Coachwhips and whipsnakes. Long, slender, fast-moving North American racers built to chase down prey in the open.
The Mexican Whip Snake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check. Long, whip-thin body; coachwhips often show a braided-whip tail pattern.
Very slender, 3–6 ft. Open deserts, grasslands, and scrub.
It has been recorded across 11 countries, including the United States of America, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala. In the United States it has been documented in 25 states, including Texas, California, Arizona and New Mexico.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Mexican Whip Snake
- Is the Mexican Whip Snake venomous?
- No. The Mexican Whip Snake (Masticophis lineatus) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Mexican Whip Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Mexican Whip Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Mexican Whip Snake dangerous?
- The Mexican Whip Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Mexican Whip Snake live?
- The Mexican Whip Snake has verified records in 11 countries, including United States of America, Mexico, Honduras. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Mexican Whip Snake?
- Long, whip-thin body; coachwhips often show a braided-whip tail pattern.
- How big does the Mexican Whip Snake get?
- Very slender, 3–6 ft.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Common CoachwhipMasticophis flagellum
Striped RacerMasticophis lateralis
Striped WhipsnakeMasticophis taeniatus
Neotropical Whip SnakeMasticophis mentovarius
Sonoran WhipsnakeMasticophis bilineatus
Schott's WhipsnakeMasticophis schotti
Baja California CoachwhipMasticophis fuliginosus
Clarion Island Whip SnakeMasticophis anthonyi
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Masticophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Masticophis lineatus
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.