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Flora & Fauna (media)
| Coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum) (Lizards, snakes and allies) 25085 | |
| Chicotera (es) | |
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239
(3 photos)
2014-07-12 Barranca Huentitán, Guadalajara, Jal, Mexico Probably of the subspecies testaceus - Western Coachwhip. My first observation of this species. Defends itself aggressively if feeling threatened, but is not poisonous. This one stayed calm and moved on after 5 minutes. It was about 1 and half meters long. The longest individuals can be more than 2 and half meters long. The distal third part of the snake was black. The name refers to the tail that looks like a whip. The legend says that when the snake feels threatened it wraps itself around the victim and starts beating it with the tail, until the death occurs. The snake then sticks it's tail up the nostril to control this. Apparently by feeling if the breathing has stopped or not. |