The Largest Coachwhip Snake Ever Caught

Also known as whip snakes, coachwhip snakes are called coachwhips because they look like an old whip used to drive horses- but what was the largest coachwhip snake ever caught?

Their coloring is darkest at their head with most being dark brown or black. This tapers to a tan or cream at the tail, with a gradient of color sweeping along the body. There is a large variation in their coloring, though they almost always look like their immediate environment.

There are 6 subspecies in the United States and Mexico, and all coachwhip snakes are endemic to these two countries. If coachwhips are one of the longest snakes in America, then what was the largest of the longest ever caught?

We’ll look at that now and discuss some other characteristics about coachwhips you should know.

How Big Was the Largest Coachwhip Snake Ever Caught?

The largest coachwhip snake ever caught was 8.5 feet long. This makes it one of the longest snakes in the United States.

Most coachwhips grow to be about 6 feet long though they frequently are found pushing 8 feet. All coachwhips are very slender for their length with their tails being the narrowest.

How Fast Are Coachwhips?

Coachwhips move up to 4 mph which makes them one of the fastest land snakes in the Americas. These snakes are so fast because they haven’t wasted musculature on constriction.

Instead, they have a large muscle on the bottom of their stomachs. This gives them more contact points with the ground than other snakes, which speeds up their sidewinding.

Where Do Coachwhips Live?

Coachwhip snakes live in the southern United States and northern Mexico from the Pacific to the Atlantic. They like to hang out in prairies, fields, dunes, and sand. Coachwhip snakes prefer dryness and heat, and like areas that don’t have a shading canopy.

They do encounter people in suburban areas as development encroaches on their environment. Additionally, they like to eat birds, rodents, insects, and amphibians which all can be found in developed areas.

Are Coachwhips Venomous?

While coachwhip snakes are not venomous, they do eat venomous snakes like rattlesnakes. They tend to eat these snakes when they’re juveniles. Coachwhips are considered relatively harmless, and they aren’t a cause for extreme alarm.

A coachwhip’s bite will hurt but it’s not dangerous. They will readily bite though if it comes down to it. Coachwhip snakes aren’t aggressive and won’t chase people despite popular myths about them.

Their bites are so painful because the bite is what immobilizes their prey. They’re opportunistic hunters, and when they strike their prey, they pin it and then swallow it whole. Sometimes they swallow their prey alive.

Will a Coachwhip Attack Me?

There is a chance that a coachwhip may attack you. They’ll stand their ground and raise their head before biting, so if you see a coachwhip behaving this way, it’s time to retreat. First, they’ll try to flee but they’ll quickly defend themselves if they can’t escape.

They raise their head so they can see better since they rely on their eyesight. They have binocular vision because their eyes are so large, and their nose is so small. This allows them to see anything that’s right in front of them, unlike most snakes.

Because they can see so well, they will strike at your face if given the opportunity.

Do Coachwhips Make Good Pets?

No, coachwhip snakes do not make good pets. Most never get used to being handled and they’re notorious for biting. They’re also huge, and their enclosure will need to be twice their size.

They don’t take well to the usual snake diet in captivity and wild specimens are known to starve themselves. There aren’t a lot of captive-bred options out there because they aren’t a popular pet, though you can find some breeders.

What Is the Largest Snake on the Planet?

The largest snake in the world is the green anaconda. It can weigh almost 550 pounds and reach a length of 30 feet. 30 feet is about the length of a school bus.

Green anacondas live in the swamps and rainforests of Brazil. They’re constrictors, and they feed on animals like deer and wild pigs because they’re so large. They’re nonvenomous.

There are wild green anacondas in the Florida Everglades, and nobody knows how they got there. None have been caught yet that earn it the record of the largest snake in the United States, but it’s expected to happen soon.

What is the Largest Snake in the United States?

The eastern indigo snake is the largest native snake in the United States. The Burmese python is the largest invasive species.

The eastern indigo snake more commonly reaches 8.5 feet in length than the coachwhip, so it just edges it out as the largest snake in the United States. Coachwhips are also slender and weigh around 4 lbs while eastern indigo snakes weigh up to 11 lbs.

The Burmese python is an invasive species and is easily the largest snake that roams America today. The largest ever caught was over 18 and a half inches long and weighed 104 pounds.

Burmese pythons are originally from Asia. They were brought to the United States through the pet trade, and escapees established a population centered in the Florida Everglades. They have no natural predators in America and their numbers are out of control.

What is the Largest Venomous Snake on Earth?

The king cobra is the largest venomous snake on earth. They average between 11 and 13 feet long, but the largest ever caught was almost 19 feet long.

They’re considered one of the smartest snakes in the world because of their advanced social and nesting habits. They’re the only snake that sticks around to protect their eggs.

Their bite is so venomous that it will bring down an elephant or 11 people with one dose. The amount of venom they inject is much higher than other snakes, so a king cobra’s dose of venom is huge. It isn’t the potency of the venom that makes it more dangerous than other snakes, it’s the amount of venom delivered.

Other Record-Breaking Snakes

When it comes to record-breaking snakes, the largest bullsnake ever recorded is certainly a notable example. Bull snakes are known for their impressive size and strength, making them an imposing presence in the wild.

The largest bull snake on record was measured at a whopping 8 feet 2 inches long! This massive serpent was found in Kansas and weighed over 20 pounds. To put that into perspective, most adult male bullsnakes typically only grow to be around 4-6 feet in length.

Bull snakes are constrictors, meaning they use their powerful muscles to squeeze and suffocate prey before swallowing it whole. Their diet consists mainly of small mammals like rodents, but they have been known to take down larger prey like rabbits or even birds.

While encountering such a large snake might seem intimidating, remember that these creatures play an important role in maintaining ecological balance by controlling rodent populations. So next time you see one slithering across your path, try not to be too afraid – just give it some space and admire its impressive size!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Alexander Wong/Shutterstock.com