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Masticophis taeniatus

(Hallowell, 1852)

Striped Whipsnake

G5Secure Found in 124 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G5SecureGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105899
Element CodeARADB21040
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyColubridae
GenusMasticophis
Synonyms
Coluber taeniatus(Hallowell, 1852)
Other Common Names
striped whipsnake (EN)
Concept Reference
Pyron, R. A., F. T. Burbrink, and J. J. Wiens. 2013. A phylogeny and revised classification of Squamata, including 4161 species of lizards and snakes. BMC Evolutionary Biology 29:131.
Taxonomic Comments
Nicholson (2025) is following Myers et al. (2017) in recognizing Masticophis as a genus.
Conservation Status
Review Date2005-12-06
Change Date1996-10-30
Edition Date2005-12-06
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G.
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent>2,500,000 square km (greater than 1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 to >300
Range Extent Comments
The range extends from southeastern Washington and southern Idaho south through Oregon, eastern California, Nevada, Utah, western Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, western and central Texas, Chihuahua, western Coahuila, Durango, and Zacatecas to northeastern Jalisco; the eastern and southern range limits in Mexico are poorly understood (Camper and Dixon 1994). The elevational range extends to 3,077 meters in Inyo County, California (Stumpel 1995, Herpetological Review 26:102).
Occurrences Comments
This species is represented by a very large number of occurrences or subpopulations. Camper (1996) mapped hundreds of collection sites.
Threat Impact Comments
No major threats have been identified. Locally, some populations are declining as a result of habitat destruction and road mortality.
Ecology & Habitat

Diagnostic Characteristics

Differs from M. SCHOTTI in (a) lacking paired light speckling on the dorsal scales and red or pink pigment immediately posterior to the angle of the jaw and (b) having the dorsal head plates edged in cream or white (Camper and Dixon 1994).

Habitat

Habitats include shrublands, arid grasslands, sagebrush flats, canyons, pinyon-juniper woodland, pine-oak woodland, and rocky stream courses. Microhabitats are terrestrial and arboreal. This snake retreats underground or into deep crevices in cold weather. Eggs usually are laid in abandoned small mammal burrows (sometimes communal with conspecifics or with other snake species).

Ecology

In Utah, population density was about 0.11-0.33/ha (excluding snakes less than 1 year old) (Parker and Brown 1980).

Reproduction

Lays clutch of 3-12 eggs, June-July; eggs hatch in 50-57 days, August-September; females are sexually mature in 2-3 years (Stebbins 1985, Nussbaum et al. 1983).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - HardwoodWoodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesertBare rock/talus/scree
Palustrine Habitats
Riparian
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN5
ProvinceRankNative
WyomingS1Yes
IdahoS4Yes
ColoradoS4Yes
ArizonaS4Yes
WashingtonS1Yes
UtahS5Yes
New MexicoS5Yes
TexasS5Yes
OregonS3Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
Navajo NationS4Yes
NevadaS5Yes
Roadless Areas (124)
Arizona (8)
AreaForestAcres
Arnold MesaPrescott National Forest12,286
Barbershop CanyonCoconino National Forest1,311
Cherry CreekTonto National Forest11,371
GaliuroCoronado National Forest28,333
Hell HoleApache-Sitgreaves National Forests15,512
Lower San FranciscoApache-Sitgreaves National Forests59,310
MazatzalTonto National Forest16,942
Sierra Ancha Wilderness ContiguousTonto National Forest7,787
California (23)
AreaForestAcres
Birch CreekInyo National Forest28,816
ButtermilkInyo National Forest542
Callahan FlowModoc National Forest6,618
Coyote NorthInyo National Forest11,932
Coyote SoutheastInyo National Forest53,159
Deep WellsInyo National Forest7,681
Domeland Add.Sequoia National Forest3,046
Excelsior (CA)Inyo National Forest45,607
Glass MountainInyo National Forest52,867
HortonInyo National Forest5,717
LavasModoc National Forest25,864
PortugueseKlamath National Forest18,915
RinconSequoia National Forest54,610
Rock Creek WestInyo National Forest3,626
SinkardHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,004
Soldier CanyonInyo National Forest40,589
South SierraInyo National Forest41,853
South SierraSequoia National Forest8,008
Timbered CraterLassen National Forest4,096
Wheeler RidgeInyo National Forest15,744
Wild Horse Mtn. (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,822
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
WoodpeckerSequoia National Forest11,936
Nevada (32)
AreaForestAcres
Angel Peak NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest12,577
Arc Dome - OphirHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,652
Arc Dome - Secret BsnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest74,782
Bald Mtn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest41,598
Boundary Peak (NV)Inyo National Forest21,851
Charleston - Macks CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,378
Currant - East SlopeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest10,101
Fourmile HillHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest15,718
Georges CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest108,551
Iron SpringHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest36,737
Lovell Summit SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest28,455
Moriah - Hendrys Ck.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,345
Moriah - Old Mans Cyn.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest50
Moriah - Red LedgeHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest670
Moriah - Rhodes Cyn. EHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest298
Moriah - Silver CreekHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,582
Pine Grove NorthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest8,749
Pine Grove SouthHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest88,945
PotosiHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,145
Sam's CanyonHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest11,869
Snake - Big WashHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,146
Snake - Can Young NHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest336
Snake - HatcheryHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest4,627
Snake - Peacock CynHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,069
South SchellHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest125,614
Sweetwater (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,946
Table Mtn. - Barley Ck.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,424
Table Mtn. - Barley RanchHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest138
Table Mtn. - EastHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest87,789
Toquima CaveHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest43,147
West Walker (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,683
White Rock MtnHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest24,917
New Mexico (22)
AreaForestAcres
Alamo CanyonSanta Fe National Forest8,639
Capitan MountainsLincoln National Forest14,069
Chama WS RiverSanta Fe National Forest4,168
Chama WildernessSanta Fe National Forest1,295
Contiguous To Black & Aldo Leopold WildernessGila National Forest111,883
Contiguous To Gila Wilderness & Primitive AreaGila National Forest79,049
Devils CreekGila National Forest89,916
Dry CreekGila National Forest26,719
Frisco BoxGila National Forest38,979
Gila BoxGila National Forest23,759
Hell HoleGila National Forest19,553
LargoGila National Forest12,731
Last Chance CanyonLincoln National Forest8,934
Little Dog And Pup CanyonsLincoln National Forest25,412
Lower San FranciscoGila National Forest26,460
Meadow CreekGila National Forest34,167
Ortega PeakLincoln National Forest11,545
Ryan HillCibola National Forest34,201
Sawyers PeakGila National Forest59,743
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
Virgin CanyonSanta Fe National Forest6,068
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
Oregon (3)
AreaForestAcres
Brattain ButteFremont National Forest5,959
HomesteadWallowa-Whitman National Forest5,817
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
Utah (36)
AreaForestAcres
0401001Ashley National Forest11,705
0401002Ashley National Forest36,113
0401023Ashley National Forest8,352
0401024Ashley National Forest12,882
0401025Ashley National Forest1,471
0401032Ashley National Forest6,471
0419020Ashley National Forest355,684
418031Uinta National Forest18,173
Box - Death HollowDixie National Forest3,175
Bullion - DelanoFishlake National Forest14,917
Capital ReefDixie National Forest763
CopleysFishlake National Forest11,683
CottonwoodDixie National Forest6,754
Cove MountainDixie National Forest16,632
FishhookDixie National Forest12,959
Flat CanyonFishlake National Forest8,663
Happy ValleyDixie National Forest14,458
Horse Mountain - Mans PeakManti-Lasal National Forest22,159
Joe LottFishlake National Forest19,826
Kane MountainDixie National Forest8,013
Lewis PeakWasatch-Cache National Forest11,616
Long Neck Mesa / Steep Creek / Oak Creek - Steep Creek / OakDixie National Forest55,489
Marysvale PeakFishlake National Forest22,624
Moody WashDixie National Forest31,835
Muddy Creek - Nelson Mt.Manti-Lasal National Forest59,034
North PavantFishlake National Forest53,262
Oak CreekFishlake National Forest54,053
PavantFishlake National Forest42,560
Pine Valley MountainsDixie National Forest57,673
Rock CanyonDixie National Forest16,457
SanpitchManti-Lasal National Forest29,129
Signal PeakFishlake National Forest30,889
Stansbury MountainsWasatch-Cache National Forest39,696
Stoddard MountainDixie National Forest13,165
Tushar MountainFishlake National Forest39,992
WellsvilleWasatch-Cache National Forest1,717
References (25)
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  3. Camper, J. D., and J. R. Dixon. 1994. Geographic variation and systematics of the striped whipsnakes (<i>Masticophis taeniatus</i> complex; Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae). Annals of Carnegie Museum 63(1):1-48.
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