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{{Short description|Genus of snakes}}
{{italic title}}
{{Italic title}}
{{Taxobox
{{Automatic taxobox
| name = ''Masticophis''
| name = ''Masticophis''
| image = Masticophis_flagellum.jpg
| image_caption = Western coachwhip, ''[[Masticophis flagellum]] testaceus''
| image = Masticophis flagellum.jpg
| image_caption = ''[[Masticophis flagellum]] testaceus'', western coachwhip, juvenile
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| taxon = Masticophis
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
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| authority = [[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Baird]] & [[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard]], 1853
| subphylum = [[Vertebrata]]
| classis = [[Reptile|Reptilia]]
| ordo = [[Squamata]]
| subordo = [[Snake|Serpentes]]
| familia = [[Colubrid]]ae
| subfamilia = [[Colubrinae]]
| genus = '''''Masticophis'''''
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| genus_authority = [[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Baird]] & [[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard]], 1853
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = 9, ''see text''.
| subdivision = Ten, see text.
| synonyms = ''Bascanion'', ''Bascanium'', ''Coryphodon'', ''Herpetodryas''
| synonyms = ''Bascanion'', ''Bascanium'', ''[[Coluber]]'', ''Coryphodon'', ''[[Drymobius]]'', ''Herpetodryas'', ''[[Leptophis]]'', ''[[Liophis]]'', ''[[Natrix]]'', ''[[Psammophis]]'', ''[[Zamenis]]''<ref>[[Albert Hazen Wright|Wright, A.H.]], & A.A. Wright. 1957. ''Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada''. Comstock. Ithaca & London. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes) (Genus ''Masticophis'', pp. 423-425.)</ref>
}}
}}


'''''Masticophis''''' is a [[genus]] of [[Colubridae|colubrid]] [[snake]]s, commonly referred to as '''whip snakes''' or '''coachwhips''', which are [[Endemism|endemic]] to the [[Americas]].<ref name="Conant1975">[[Roger Conant (herpetologist)|Conant, R.]] 1975. ''A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition''. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 429 pp. ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Genus ''Masticophis'', pp. 177-178.)</ref> They are characterized by having a long, thin body and are not dangerous to humans.
'''''Masticophis''''' is a [[genus]] of [[Colubridae|colubrid]] [[snake]]s, commonly referred to as '''whip snakes''' or '''coachwhips''', which are [[Endemism|endemic]] to the [[Americas]].<ref name="Conant1975">[[Roger Conant (herpetologist)|Conant R]] (1975). ''A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition''. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. {{ISBN|0-395-19977-8}} (paperback). (Genus ''Masticophis'', pp. 177-178).</ref> They are characterized by having a long, thin body and are not dangerous to humans.


==Distribution and habitat==
==Geographic range==
[[Species]] of ''Masticophis'' are found in the [[United States]], [[Mexico]], [[Central America]], and northern [[South America]].<ref name="Conant1975"/>
[[Species]] of ''Masticophis'' are found in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.<ref name="Conant1975"/>


==Description==
==Description==
Adults may attain total lengths 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.<ref>[[Hobart Muir Smith|Smith, H.M.]], and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. ''Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification''. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Genus ''Masticophis'', pp. 190-1903.)</ref>
Adults of [[species]] in the genus ''Masticophis'' may attain a total length (including tail) from 152&nbsp;cm (5&nbsp;ft) for ''M. lateralis'' to 259&nbsp;cm (8.5&nbsp;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.<ref>[[Hobart Muir Smith|Smith HM]], [[species:Edmund Darrell Brodie Jr.|Brodie ED Jr]] (1982). ''Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification''. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. {{ISBN|0-307-13666-3}} (paperback). (Genus ''Masticophis'', pp. 190-193).</ref>


== Species ==
==Species and subspecies==
The genus ''Masticophis'' contains eleven species that are recognized as being valid, five of which have recognized [[subspecies]].<ref>{{EMBL genus|genus=Masticophis}} www.reptile-database.org.</ref>
*Clarion Island whip snake, ''[[Masticophis anthonyi]]'' <small>([[Leonhard Hess Stejneger|Stejneger]], 1901)</small>
*''[[Masticophis anthonyi]]'' {{small|([[Leonhard Stejneger|Stejneger]], 1901)}} – Clarion Island whip snake
*Baja California striped whip snake, ''[[Masticophis aurigulus]]''
**''M. a. aurigulus'' <small>([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], 1861)</small>
*''[[Masticophis aurigulus]]'' {{small|([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], 1861)}} – Baja California striped whip snake
**''M. a. barbouri'' <small>([[John Van Denburgh|Van Denburgh]] & Slevin, 1921)</small>
*''[[Masticophis barbouri]]'' {{small|([[John Van Denburgh|Van Denburgh]] & [[Joseph Richard Slevin|Slevin]], 1921)}} – Baja California striped whip snake, Espiritu Santo striped whip snake
*Sonoran whip snake, ''[[Masticophis bilineatus]]''
*''[[Masticophis bilineatus]]'' {{small|[[Giorgio Jan|Jan]], 1863}} – Sonoran whip snake
**''M. b. bilineatus'' <small>[[Giorgio Jan|Jan]], 1863</small>
*''[[Masticophis flagellum]]'' {{small|([[George Shaw (biologist)|Shaw]], 1802)}} – coachwhip
**''M. b. slevini'' <small>([[Charles Herbert Lowe|Lowe]] & Norris, 1955)</small>
**''Masticophis flagellum cingulum'' {{small|[[Charles Herbert Lowe|Lowe]] & [[:fr:William Hartman Woodin, III|Woodin]], 1954}} – Sonoran coachwhip
*Coachwhip, ''[[Masticophis flagellum]]''
**''[[Masticophis flagellum flagellum]]'' {{small|(Shaw, 1802)}} – eastern coachwhip
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**''Masticophis flagellum lineatulus'' {{small|[[Hobart Muir Smith|H.M. Smith]], 1941}} – lined coachwhip
**Sonoran coachwhip, ''M. f. cingulum'' <small>Lowe & Woodin, 1954</small>
**''Masticophis flagellum piceus'' {{small|(Cope, 1892)}} – red coachwhip
**Eastern coachwhip, ''M. f. flagellum'' <small>([[George Shaw|Shaw]], 1802)</small>
**''Masticophis flagellum ruddocki'' {{small|[[species:Bayard H. Brattstrom|Brattstrom]] & [[species:James W. Warren|Warren]], 1953}} – San Joaquin coachwhip
**Baja California coachwhip, ''M. f. fuliginosus'' <small>(Cope, 1895)</small>
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**''Masticophis flagellum testaceus'' {{small|([[Thomas Say|Say]], 1823)}} – western coachwhip
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**Lined coachwhip, ''M. f. lineatulus'' <small>[[Hobart Muir Smith|H.M. Smith]], 1941</small>
*''[[Masticophis fuliginosus]]'' {{small|(Cope, 1895)}} – Baja California coachwhip
**Red coachwhip, ''M. f. piceus'' <small>(Cope, 1892)</small>
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*''[[Masticophis lateralis]]'' {{small|([[Edward Hallowell (herpetologist)|Hallowell]], 1853}} – California whipsnake
**San Joaquin coachwhip, ''M. f. ruddocki'' <small>Brattstrom & Warren, 1953</small>
**''[[Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus]]'' {{small|[[species:William J. Riemer|Riemer]], 1954}} – Alameda striped racer
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**Western coachwhip, ''M. f. testaceus'' <small>([[Thomas Say|Say]], 1823)</small>
*California whip snake, ''[[Masticophis lateralis]]''
**''Masticophis lateralis lateralis'' {{small|(Hallowell, 1853)}} – California striped racer
[[File:Masticophis schotti.jpg|240px|thumb|''Masticophis schotti schotti'', [[Arthur Carl Victor Schott|Schott's]] whip snake]]
**Alameda striped racer, ''M. l. euryxanthus'' <small>Riemer, 1954</small>
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*''[[Masticophis mentovarius]]'' {{small|([[André Marie Constant Duméril|A.M.C. Duméril]], [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]] & [[Auguste Duméril|A.H.A. Duméril]], 1854)}} – neotropical whip snake
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**California striped racer, ''M. l. lateralis'' <small>([[Edward Hallowell (herpetologist)|Hallowell]], 1853)</small>
**''Masticophis mentovarius centralis'' {{small|([[Janis Roze|Roze]], 1953)}}
*Ajo Mountain whip snake, ''[[Masticophis lineolatus]]'' <small>(Hensley, 1950)</small>
**''Masticophis mentovarius mentovarius'' {{small|(A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)}}
[[Image:Masticophis schotti.jpg|240px|thumb|Schott's whip snake, ''M. s. schotti'']]
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**''Masticophis mentovarius suborbitalis'' {{small|([[Wilhelm Peters|W. Peters]], 1868)}}
*Neotropical whip snake, ''[[Masticophis mentovarius]]''
**''M. m. centralis'' <small>([[Janis Roze|Roze]], 1953)</small>
**''Masticophis mentovarius striolatus'' {{small|([[Robert Mertens|Mertens]], 1934)}}
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**''Masticophis mentovarius variolosus'' {{small|H.M. Smith, 1943}}
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**''M. m. mentovarius'' <small>([[André Marie Constant Duméril|A.M.C. Duméril]], [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]] & [[Auguste Duméril|A.H.A. Duméril]], 1854)</small>
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*''[[Masticophis schotti]]'' {{small|[[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Baird]] & [[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard]], 1853}} – [[Arthur Carl Victor Schott|Schott's]] whip snake
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**''M. m. suborbitalis'' <small>([[Wilhelm Peters|W. Peters]], 1868)</small>
**''Masticophis schotti ruthveni'' {{small|[[species:Arthur Irving Ortenburger|Ortenburger]], 1923}} – [[Alexander Grant Ruthven|Ruthven's]] whip snake
**''M. m. striolatus'' <small>([[Robert Mertens|Mertens]], 1934)</small>
**''Masticophis schotti schotti'' {{small|Baird & Girard, 1853}} – Schott's whip snake
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**''M. m. variolosus'' <small>H.M. Smith, 1943</small>
*''[[Masticophis slevini]]'' {{small|(Lowe & [[Kenneth S. Norris|Norris]], 1955)}} – Isla San Esteban whipsnake, San Esteban Island whipsnake
*Schott's whip snake, ''[[Masticophis schotti]]''
*''[[Masticophis taeniatus]]'' {{small|(Hallowell, 1852)}} – striped whip snake
**Ruthven's whip snake, ''M. s. ruthveni'' <small>Ortenburger, 1923</small>
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**''Masticophis taeniatus girardi'' {{small|(Stejneger & [[Thomas Barbour|Barbour]], 1917)}} – Central Texas whip snake
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**Schott's whip snake, ''M. s. schotti'' <small>[[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Baird]] & [[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard]], 1853</small>
*Striped whip snake, ''[[Masticophis taeniatus]]''
**''Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus'' {{small|(Hallowell, 1852)}} – desert striped whip snake
**''M. t. australis'' <small>H.M. Smith, 1941</small>
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**Central Texas whip snake, ''M. t. girardi'' <small>(Stejneger & [[Thomas Barbour|Barbour]], 1917)</small>
**Ornate whip snake, ''M. t. ornatus'' <small>Baird & Girard, 1853</small>
**Desert striped whip snake, ''M. t. taeniatus'' <small>(Hallowell, 1852)</small>


''[[Nota bene]]'': A [[Binomial nomenclature|binomial authority]] or [[Trinomen|trinomial authority]] in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than ''Masticophis''.
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== References ==

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{{commonscat|Masticophis}}
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==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
*{{EMBL genus|genus=Masticophis}}


==Further reading==
⚫
[[Category:Colubrids]]
*[[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Baird SF]], [[Charles Frédéric Girard|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.&nbsp;98).

==External links==
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{{Commons category|Masticophis}}
*[https://serpientesdevenezuela.org/masticophis-mentovarius-suborbitalis https://serpientesdevenezuela.org/masticophis-mentovarius/]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q2578729}}
{{Authority control}}

⚫
[[Category:Masticophis]]
[[Category:Snake genera]]
[[Category:Snake genera]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Spencer Fullerton Baird]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Spencer Fullerton Baird]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Charles Frédéric Girard]]

{{Colubrids-stub}}

Latest revision as of 00:19, 26 October 2023

Masticophis
Masticophis flagellum testaceus, western coachwhip, juvenile
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Genus: Masticophis
Baird & Girard, 1853
Species

Ten, see text.

Synonyms

Bascanion, Bascanium, Coryphodon, Herpetodryas

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[edit]

Species of Masticophis are found in the United States, Mexico, Central America, and northern South America.[1]

Description[edit]

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[edit]

The genus Masticophis contains eleven species that are recognized as being valid, five of which have recognized subspecies.[3]

Masticophis schotti schotti, Schott's 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[edit]

  1. ^ 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. ISBN 0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Genus Masticophis, pp. 177-178).
  2. ^ Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN 0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Genus Masticophis, pp. 190-193).
  3. ^ Genus Masticophis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading[edit]

  • 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).

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Masticophis.
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