Racer snake4/6/2023 ![]() The red body coloration is the best way to differentiate between the two species. The Santa Cruz Gartersnake shares a territory with the Coastal Gartersnake. The dull body color is offset by a bold stripe down the center of the back. Given its coastal range it is both aquatic and land based. Its territory extends clear up the northern California Coast and spills into southern Oregon. Move up the coast a bit to the north and the Two-striped Gartersnake is replaced by the Santa Cruz Gartersnake. Interestingly enough, it lacks the stripe down the center of the body. However, it’s an endemic species with a small coastal range. The common name for the snake does not contain the word California in it. Tourists in Southern California, especially those visiting the coastal areas from Los Angeles to San Diego can keep an eye open for the Two-striped Gartersnake (Thamnophis hammondii). Four species and fourteen subspecies have been documented to date. It’s usually the least colorful of the desert shovel-nosed snakes.Ĭalifornia is also a great garter snake destination. ![]() Visitors to the desert area, might keep their eyes peeled on the road at night for a Mohave Shovel-nosed Snake (Chionactis occipitalis). The picture shows the Alameda Whipsnake, another subspecies with a very limited range. The California Striped Whipsnake (Coluber lateralis lateralis) also has a range that extends around most of California with the exception of the deserts and higher elevations of the Sierras. There they might find the San Joaquin Coachwhip (Coluber flagellum ruddocki). Valley visitors driving down I5 might want to stop at any of the National Wildlife Refuges situated in the area from Sacramento to Kern. Typically the Southern California region hosts a Red Coachwhip, a common species across the southern border. They are one subspecies of one of the most common of all native snakes.Ĭoachwhips are equally as common as the racers in California. With the exception of the desert areas, California tourists have a good chance of meeting up with a Western Racer (Coluber constrictor mormon) also called the Yellow-bellied Racer. Even better, it is a fairly calm and nonvenomous snake. It’s the most colorful snake that visitors to Yosemite will see. Sometimes the California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) gets listed with subspecies such as the Sierra Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata multicincta). Like all kingsnakes, the California Kingsnake is immune to Rattlesnake venom, so when the two snakes cross paths, the Kingsnake typically wins. In different habitats the look of the snake can change from a basic black body with thin white bands to a brown body with thicker white bands, to bodies with stripes down the body rather than bands. It is very habitat adaptable and lives in most areas of the state except for the Northwest Redwoods and the higher elevations of the Sierra Mountains. Speaking of kingsnakes, the top picture shows the king of all California snakes, the California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis californiae). ![]() Remember, you are not a kingsnake, so keep and eye and ear out for them. These ten rattlesnakes are spread throughout the entire snake. Two of these species consist of more than one subspecies, making a total of 10 different types of rattlesnakes found in the state. There are 7 different species of rattlesnakes found in California. Prior to the presentation, one quick note.
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