Coachwhip Snake vs. Bull Snake: Key Similarities and Differences

Written by Kristen Holder
Updated: October 29, 2022
Share on:

Advertisement


It’s easy to assume that all snakes are alike but that isn’t true. While all snakes share a handful of common characteristics, like being carnivorous, every snake species is unique. What’s the difference between a coachwhip snake vs. a bull snake? Read on to find out!

Comparing Coachwhip Snake vs. Bull Snake

Coachwhips (Masticophis flagellum) are slender, bodied snakes which are endemic to the US and Mexico and there are six recognized subspecies. Bull snakes (Pituophis catenifer sayi) are a subspecies of the gopher snake and are one of the longest snakes in North America.

NameCoachwhip SnakeBull Snake
Scientific NameMasticophis flagellumPituophis catenifer sayi
SizeUp to 8 feet
Up to 3 pounds
Up to 8 feet
Up to 10 pounds
LocationCoast to coast in the US plus northern Mexico. Absent around the Mississippi River.Southern Canada, the United States, and Mexico.
HabitatOpen prairies, sandhills, and pine forestsOpen grasslands and farms
ColorA black head tapers to a cream tailTan with dark patterning
Body TypeSlenderBulky
ConstrictorNoYes

The Key Differences Between Coachwhip Snakes and Bull Snakes

coachwhip snake

Coachwhip snakes have a slong, slender body and resemble a braided coachwhip after which they are named.

©Jay Ondreicka/Shutterstock.com

The main differences between bull snakes and coachwhip snakes are their size and appearance. Coachwhips have a slender, streamlined body while bull snakes have a thick, bulky body. Bull snakes are also tan with a dark patterned appearance, whereas coachwhips don’t have a pattern. The other differences between them include their native range and habitat.

Coachwhip Snake vs. Bull Snake: Appearance

Coachwhip snakes have a dark head that progresses in a gradient toward white or dark cream at the tip. While a dark-to-light color gradient always exists, their exact coloration varies by region. They are pink, red, black, or brown depending on their environment.

Coachwhips got their name because they look like stagecoach whips. These whips were used to direct horses and had a crosshatched pattern similar to the scaling on the coachwhip snake. These snakes have large eyes set in a small head.

Coachwhips make terrible pets but bull snakes are often kept in captivity. As a result, there are many color morphs of the bull snake. Bull snakes in the wild have a tan base color with a darker uniform pattern on top of it.

Coachwhip Snake vs. Bull Snake: Diet

Coachwhips and bull snakes eat small mammals, birds, lizards, and amphibians. They’re also capable of eating rattlesnakes and they regularly consume them when they’re juveniles.

Coachwhips hunt with their eyes because they have binocular vision. They cruise around with their heads held high so they can strike if the opportunity arises. Bull snakes rely on their Jacobsen’s organ to help them smell their prey by flicking their tongues.

Bull snakes are great climbers so they eat small ground prey as well as baby birds and eggs. Coachwhips will climb if they must but they prefer to reamin on the ground. Both coachwhips and bull snakes swallow their prey whole. However, bullsnakes are constrictors whereas coachwhips are not.

Coachwhip Snake vs. Bull Snake: Size

Coachwhip snakes are 3 to 8 feet long. Bull snakes are also long and they also reach 8 feet in length. Both the coachwhip and bull snake are some of the longest snakes in America. The longest coachwhip on record was 8.5 feet long. That’s the same length as the longest bullsnake on record. However, both snakes reach an average of 6 feet in length.

Bull snakes are exceptionally girthy because they are powerful constrictors. They weigh up to 10 pounds whereas coachwhips weigh up to 3 pounds.

Coachwhip Snake vs. Bull Snake: Speed

bullsnake

Bullsnakes are constrictors with large, powerful bodies

©Christopher Joe Brown/Shutterstock.com

Both bull snakes and coachwhips are exceptionally fast. However, coachwhips are the fastest and travel up to four miles per hour. Coachwhips are so fast because their musculature doesn’t need to be devoted to constriction. Instead, their most powerful muscles are on their stomachs which makes them skilled sidewinders.

Coachwhip Snake vs. Bull Snake: Habitat and Range

Bull snakes and coachwhips have overlapping territories but the bull snake’s range is larger. Coachwhip snakes are found in northern Mexico and the USA. They’re found coast to coast though they’re absent from the areas around the Mississippi River. Fields, prairies, sandhills, and pine forests are common habitats.

Coachwhips are found in southern Canada, the US, and Mexico. They don’t like areas with shady canopies because they prefer dry and hot conditions. Bull snakes also like open areas and they’re most common in grasslands and on farms. Both snakes are found in suburban environments but coachwhips are less likely to be seen. Bull snakes are a welcome sight to farmers because they eat vermin like rats and mice.

Coachwhip Snake vs. Bull Snake: Conservation Status

The coachwhip snake is an animal of the least concern which means it is not at risk of extinction. However, its numbers are reducing enough in Illinois that they are recognized as endangered within the state. It is plentiful in the core of its territory in Arizona, Texas, and Florida.

Bull snakes are also easy to find and are of the least concern from a conservation standpoint. They are not at risk of extinction.

Up Next

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Jay Ondreicka/Shutterstock.com

Discover the "Monster" Snake 5X Bigger than an Anaconda

Every day A-Z Animals sends out some of the most incredible facts in the world from our free newsletter. Want to discover the 10 most beautiful snakes in the world, a "snake island" where you're never more than 3 feet from danger, or a "monster" snake 5X larger than an anaconda? Then sign up right now and you'll start receiving our daily newsletter absolutely free.



Share on:
About the Author

Kristen Holder is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering topics related to history, travel, pets, and obscure scientific issues. Kristen has been writing professionally for 3 years, and she holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of California, Riverside, which she obtained in 2009. After living in California, Washington, and Arizona, she is now a permanent resident of Iowa. Kristen loves to dote on her 3 cats, and she spends her free time coming up with adventures that allow her to explore her new home.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

Are bull snakes and coachwhips venomous?

No, both the coachwhip and bull snake are nonvenomous. Both coachwhips and bull snakes will flee from a human unless they’re cornered. Despite popular rumors, coachwhips will not chase humans.

While bull snakes constrict their prey which crushes it, coachwhips use their strong jaws to pin their prey to the ground before swallowing it whole. They aren’t afraid to use these powerful jaws in self-defense and they’ll readily bite anyone that attempts to handle them.

Both bull snakes and coachwhips raise themselves high off of the ground if they feel threatened. If you observe this behavior, slowly back away from the snake.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.

Sources
  1. Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullsnake
  2. Wikipedia, Available here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masticophis_flagellum