The stable snake inhabits southern California, Arizona, and Nevada.
The whip snake, Masticophis flagellum (Mf), is part of the Colubridae family. Snakes of this species have narrow, elongated bodies with heavy scales above rounded eyes. They range in size from around 0.9 m (3 ft) to more than 2.4 m (8 ft) long. Coachwhip snakes vary in appearance based on subspecies and geography.
One environment that whip snakes may occupy is the desert.
The red snake, Mf piceus, inhabits deserts, bushes, and grasslands in southern California, Arizona, and Nevada. The front halves of their bodies are usually red, pink, or black. Some have broad transverse black or brown bands. The color gradually lightens towards the tail. They are good climbers and can climb bushes and trees.
The eastern whip snake, flagellum Mf, is found along beaches, in thickets, or around sandy hills in the southeastern United States. Their dark brown or black heads gradually fade into light brown scales with black outlines, giving them the appearance of a braided whip. Juvenile eastern whiptails are slightly lighter than adults, with brown or tan scales and indistinct banding.
While not poisonous, a lead snake’s bite can be painful.
Western chariots, Mf testaceus, live in deserts, scrublands, and grasslands throughout Mexico and the southwestern United States. They vary in color from pink to yellow, brown, or tan. Many western whiptails have short, dark criss-cross bands across the front of the body, which widen toward the tail.
Other varieties of whip snakes include the Sonoran whip, Mf cingulum, a snake from southern and central Arizona and Mexico. It has a light pink body with dark bands. Baja California whiptails, Mf fuliginosus, are light or dark gray in color with zigzag bands, while striped whiptails, Mf lineatulus, are tan or gray snakes that primarily inhabit Mexico and New Mexico.
Chauffeur snakes eat by crushing their prey with their jaws. They feed on a variety of large insects, lizards, birds, and rodents. Unlike many species of snakes, whips are diurnal or stay awake during the day. They have a tendency to heat up on roads and feed on pedestrians, so they are often killed by oncoming traffic.
They are oviparous, or egg layers. They lay between three and 12 eggs in early summer. Young snakes hatch between 45 and 70 days later.
Members of the rattlesnake species are generally tense and nervous. They warn those who approach by wagging their tails and whistling. They are fast moving and prefer to run away rather than attack, but will aggressively defend themselves against perceived predators if disturbed. Whips are not poisonous, but can cause a painful bite if handled.