Schott's Whipsnake
Coluber schotti
A slender, fast-moving whipsnake of South Texas brushlands, patterned with pale crossbands on a darker ground color.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 0.8-1.1 m (2.6-3.6 ft)
- Range
- Southern Texas (USA) into northeastern Mexico
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Overview
Schott's Whipsnake is a slim, alert colubrid restricted to the thorn-scrub country of the Rio Grande Valley and adjacent Mexico. It is sometimes treated as a subspecies of the wider-ranging Coluber (Masticophis) schotti complex.
It is a daytime hunter that relies on speed and sharp vision to capture prey, typical of whipsnakes and racers.
How to identify it
- Slender body with a whip-like tapering tail
- Ground color tan to grayish-brown with irregular pale crossbands, especially anteriorly, fading to plain coloring posteriorly
- Large eyes with round pupils
- Smooth dorsal scales, giving a glossy appearance
- Distinguished from other Texas whipsnakes by the banded pattern near the head that fades toward the tail
Habitat & range
Found in arid to semi-arid thorn-scrub, mesquite brushland, and coastal plains of extreme southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, typically at low elevations.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal and fast-moving, actively foraging for lizards and small vertebrates during the day. Alert and quick to flee when approached. Lays eggs in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Is Schott's Whipsnake venomous?
No, it is a non-venomous colubrid.
Where is it found?
In brushland and thorn-scrub of southern Texas and northeastern Mexico.
How can I identify it?
Look for a slender, fast whipsnake with pale crossbands near the head fading to plain color toward the tail.
Schott's Whipsnake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Schott's Whipsnake.
