Reptiles of North Carolina
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NC Records

Masticophis flagellum - Coachwhip


Photo: Steve Hall and Erich Hoffman
Photo: Steve Hall and Erich Hoffman
Taxonomy
Class: Reptilia Order: Serpentes Family: COLUBRIDAE Subfamily: Colubrinae Synonym: Coluber flagellum Other Common Name(s): Eastern Coachwhip
Taxonomic Comments: Masticophis currently consists of 11 species of long, slender snakes, ranging widely across most of western and southern North America; one species ranges south through Central America to northern South America.

The generic placement of snakes in the genus Masticophis is a matter of debate among experts, with some synonymizing the eleven species within Coluber, and others excluding a monotypic Coluber. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies support the distinction between Coluber and Masticophis (Myers et al., 2017; O'Connell and Smith, 2018).

Species Comments: Masticophis flagellum, the Coachwhip, is the only member of its genus in North Carolina. This species ranges throughout the southern United States from both coasts south into Mexico. A gap in distribution occurs around the Mississippi River. In North Carolina, Coachwhips are restricted to the southeastern Coastal Plain.

Some authors recognize as many as six subspecies, but only the nominate subspecies (M. f. flagellum, the Eastern Coachwhip) is found in North Carolina.

The generic epithet Masticophis derived from the Greek mastix, "whip", and ophis, "snake". The specific epithet flagellum is Latin for "whip", in reference to the whip-like appearance of this species.

Taxonomic References: Wilson (1973); Myers et al. (2017); O'Connell and Smith (2018).
Identification
Description: Coachwhips are large, slender snakes with angular heads slightly wider than the neck. Coloration and pattern are variable range-wide, but in North Carolina, adults are black or dark brown on the anterior quarter to half of the body; this color grades into tan or pale brown posteriorly and may appear slightly pinkish, leaving a unique (for our area) two-toned body pattern. The scale edges remain dark on the posterior portion, giving the tail a braided appearance. The venter is mostly unmarked. The head is dark black/brown with little pigmentation.

Juvenile Coachwhips are distinctly patterned prior to undergoing an ontogenetic color change as they mature. Juveniles are olive to yellowish brown dorsally, with darker brown to black crossbars. The head of juveniles has a yellowish brown spot on the parietals, and most of the head scales are outlined with white or yellow, giving it a distinctive speckled/mosiac look.
Morphological Features: Coachwhips typically have 17 smooth scale rows at midbody; scale row counts may be higher (19) anteriorly and lower (13) posteriorly. Ventral counts range from 185-212 (194-207 in NC specimens; Palmer and Braswell, 1995), with 91-125 subcaudals (103-119) and a divided anal plate. Head scale counts are typically as follows: 8 supralabials, 10 infralabials, 1 loreal, 2 nasals, 2 preoculars, 2 postoculars, and 2+3+3 temporals. Palmer and Braswell (1995) noted variation in scalation across multiple specimens in NC.

Coachwhips are North Carolina's longest snakes, with a maximum recorded total length of 259 cm (102 inches). Palmer and Braswell (1995) reported a 223.5 cm specimen from NC. Tail lengths account for approximately one quarter of total length. Females typically have more posterior dorsal scale rows, fewer subcaudals, and slimmer tails than males, though over large sample sizes range-wide that variation overlaps.

Coachwhips do not have enlarged posterior teeth or Duvernoy's glands, meaning they are incapable of producing venom. Their typical response to a threat is to flee quickly, but if blocked or captured, they will thrash about, strike and bite repeatedly, and spray musk. Although mostly harmless to humans and pets, their bites can draw blood.
Technical Reference: Palmer and Braswell (1995); Ernst and Ernst (2003).
Field Guide Descriptions: Palmer and Braswell (1995); Ernst and Ernst (2003); Beane et al. (2010).
Online Photos:    Google   iNaturalist   GBIF
Observation Methods: Coachwhips are often seen actively moving during the day, and may be sampled using drift fences and cover objects.
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Key Habitat Requirements
Habitat: Coachwhips are characteristic of xeric, open woodlands with well-drained sandy soils. Most records come from the Coastal Plain where they are associated with dune grasslands, maritime scrub, and forest habitats on the barrier islands and xeric pine-oak woodlands on sand-ridges further inland (Palmer and Braswell, 1995; Beane et al., 2010; Gibbons, 2017). Some use is also made of old field habitats, particularly where the soils are sandy.
Biotic Relationships: Coachwhips are active predators with a cosmopolitan diet; they will consume essentially any prey item they can catch and successfully swallow. Lizards, especially Six-lined Racerunners (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus), appear to account for the majority of diet records in our area (Beane, 2013).

Recorded prey items include: various arthropods (including crabs, cicadas, lepidopteran larvae, millipedes, and orthopterans), small/nestling birds and their eggs (including various doves, icterids, jays, sparrows, and woodpeckers), anurans, lizards (anoles, fence lizards, glass lizards, racerunners/whiptails, and skinks), snakes (including Coluber constrictor, Diadophis punctatus, Heterodon sp., Lampropeltis sp., Opheodrys aestivus, and Crotalus sp.), small mammals (bats, mice and rats, nestling rabbits, shrews, and squirrels), and even hatchling turtles (including Kinosternon subrubrum, Pseudemys concinna, and Terrapene carolina; Hamilton and Pollack, 1956; Brown, 1979; Palmer and Braswell, 1995; Ernst and Ernst, 2003; Lau and Burgess, 2012; Beane, 2013; Johnson and Blais, 2021). Cannibalism by larger coachwhips on smaller individuals is also known.

Coachwhips are known prey of ophiophagous snakes (including kingsnakes, racers, and other coachwhips), predatory birds (including eagles and hawks), and various carnivorous mammals.
Life History and Autecology
Breeding and Courtship: Ernst and Ernst (2003) hypothesized that sexual maturity is reached around 70–90 cm total body length, though little is known about this snake’s reproductive biology. Mating occurs in the spring (April to May).
Reproductive Mode: Coachwhips are oviparous and typically lay eggs in summer (June and July) that hatch in late summer or early Fall (August and September). Eggs are similar in shape to those of Coluber constrictor, but typically longer. Clutches average approximately 11 white, elongate, nonadherent, granular eggs 40–45 mm long (Palmer and Braswell, 1995; Ernst and Ernst, 2003).

Hatchlings are approximately 26 cm in total length per Ernst and Ernst (2003), though Palmer and Braswell reported higher averages from one clutch (43 cm); they weigh 14–15 g (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). They are lighter colored than adults and patterned with dark crossbars (see “Description” above), which gradually darken as the snakes age.
Terrestrial Life History: Coachwhips are diurnal, active snakes; at night they typically stay put under cover objects. They are primarily terrestrial, and often encountered actively moving through habitat or under cover objects. They have been recorded in North Carolina from January–November, but most activity occurs from May to July. Coachwhips are also known to use mammal burrows and have been found cohabiting with Pinesnakes (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). In colder climates they will hibernate in mammal burrows, rock crevices, or in underground tunnels formed from pine roots decaying.

Home range estimates are not known from North Carolina, but in California average home range estimates exceed 50 hectares (500,000 m2; Secor, 1995).
General Ecology
Adverse Environmental Impacts
Status in North Carolina
NHP State Rank: S2
Global Rank: G5
Status in North Carolina: SC

Photo Gallery for Masticophis flagellum - Coachwhip

2 photos are shown.

Recorded by: Steve Hall and Erich Hoffman
Hoke Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Steve Hall and Erich Hoffman
Hoke Co.
Comment: