Masticophis is a genus of colubridsnakes, 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.
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) – Clarion Island whip snake
Masticophis aurigulus(Cope, 1861) – Baja California striped whip snake
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Masticophis.
^ abConant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. ISBN0-395-19977-8 (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. ISBN0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Genus Masticophis, pp. 190-193).
^Genus Masticophis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
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).
masticophis, genus, colubrid, snakes, commonly, referred, whip, snakes, coachwhips, which, endemic, americas, they, characterized, having, long, thin, body, dangerous, humans, flagellum, testaceus, western, coachwhip, juvenilescientific, classificationkingdom,. 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 MasticophisMasticophis flagellum testaceus western coachwhip juvenileScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ColubridaeSubfamily ColubrinaeGenus MasticophisBaird amp Girard 1853SpeciesTen see text SynonymsBascanion Bascanium Coryphodon Herpetodryas Contents 1 Distribution and habitat 2 Description 3 Species and subspecies 4 References 5 Further reading 6 External linksDistribution and habitat EditSpecies of Masticophis are found in the United States Mexico Central America and northern South America 1 Description EditAdults 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 EditThe genus Masticophis contains eleven species that are recognized as being valid five of which have recognized subspecies 3 Masticophis anthonyi Stejneger 1901 Clarion Island whip snake Masticophis aurigulus Cope 1861 Baja California striped whip snake Masticophis barbouri Van Denburgh amp Slevin 1921 Baja California striped whip snake Espiritu Santo striped whip snake Masticophis bilineatus Jan 1863 Sonoran whip snake Masticophis flagellum Shaw 1802 coachwhip Masticophis flagellum cingulum Lowe amp Woodin 1954 Sonoran coachwhip Masticophis flagellum flagellum Shaw 1802 eastern coachwhip Masticophis flagellum lineatulus H M Smith 1941 lined coachwhip Masticophis flagellum piceus Cope 1892 red coachwhip Masticophis flagellum ruddocki Brattstrom amp Warren 1953 San Joaquin coachwhip Masticophis flagellum testaceus Say 1823 western coachwhip Masticophis fuliginosus Cope 1895 Baja California coachwhip Masticophis lateralis Hallowell 1853 California whipsnake Masticophis lateralis euryxanthus Riemer 1954 Alameda striped racer Masticophis lateralis lateralis Hallowell 1853 California striped racer Masticophis schotti schotti Schott s whip snake Masticophis mentovarius A M C Dumeril Bibron amp A H A Dumeril 1854 neotropical whip snake Masticophis mentovarius centralis Roze 1953 Masticophis mentovarius mentovarius A M C Dumeril Bibron amp A H A Dumeril 1854 Masticophis mentovarius suborbitalis W Peters 1868 Masticophis mentovarius striolatus Mertens 1934 Masticophis mentovarius variolosus H M Smith 1943 Masticophis schotti Baird amp Girard 1853 Schott s whip snake Masticophis schotti ruthveni Ortenburger 1923 Ruthven s whip snake Masticophis schotti schotti Baird amp Girard 1853 Schott s whip snake Masticophis slevini Lowe amp Norris 1955 Isla San Esteban whipsnake San Esteban Island whipsnake Masticophis taeniatus Hallowell 1852 striped whip snake Masticophis taeniatus girardi Stejneger amp Barbour 1917 Central Texas whip snake Masticophis taeniatus taeniatus Hallowell 1852 desert striped whip snakeNota 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 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Masticophis 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 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 Genus Masticophis at The Reptile Database www reptile database org Further reading EditBaird 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 Edithttps serpientesdevenezuela org masticophis mentovarius Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Masticophis amp oldid 1130987501, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
