help id this snake i saw in san clemente, ca june 2014

9 years ago

PLEASE help me ID this snake I saw while riding on a bike path in San Clemente, CA in June 2014. Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photo of it, so I drew a picture - - and I am no artist. (Sadly, as I was slowing down to pull over to try and take a photo, my friend and I crashed on our road bikes and the snake slithered away.) I have searched and searched the internet literally all summer for CA snakes as well as exotic snakes, but cannot find a snake like this. I know it seems bizarre, but this snake truly had a black and gray banded head, a mid section that was pink and a tail section that was a fire-coral color. All stretched out it would have been approximately 4 feet long, although it was not a thick, beefy snake. Since my friend ended up having two separate surgeries as a result of our bike accident, I am at least trying to identify the snake I saw that day for some peace of mind. Thanks!!

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Comments (8)

User
9 years ago
At first I laughed when I saw this drawing thinking "no one will be able to ID a snake from a drawing like that", but then I looked and realized I knew what it was.
The snake you saw was a "Red Racer" or Red Coachwhip (Coluber flagellum piceus). The only photo I have is of a younger one from further east (AZ) where they aren't as red and the head banding isn't as prominent. In CA they are very red and have prominent black and white banded anteriorly.
Look at the photo of the adult from San Bernandino Co, CA on the page I have linked and you will see your drawing is a pretty good representation.

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Racer pictures from SWCHR
Sharon McKenzie
9 years ago
Second that, even with a simple drawing it's easy to tell that you saw a Red Racer!
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aghh
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you both SSSSOOOO much for your help!! Oh, and thanks for giving my drawing a second look instead of blowing it off as a joke. ;)

I did look at the snake in the link you sent, FHFchrish, which prompted me to investigate further. I came across a photo that is VERY similar to the one we saw that fateful day and have included a link in case either of you is interested. (Without my bifocals on, I couldn't tell there were bands running the entire length of the snake.) I did some further research and discovered it was probably a good thing I didn't try to get that photo after all because apparently they are very mean tempered!

Mystery solved.

Thank you!

Here is a link that might be useful: Red Racer compliments of Ron's Log
Sharon McKenzie
9 years ago
I have kept this species before, and have not found them to be "mean-tempered" at all. Like most snakes in this family, they are flighty and high-strung, and many will bite IF you grab them or treat them roughly, but they aren't just going to randomly attack you, especially not if they are able to escape. I have two very large Western Coachwhips now, which I can handle without them biting, and I found that the pisceus subspecies tends to be even more docile than testaceus. Here's a pic of one that I had several years ago, with a pink-phased Western Coachwhip.

Here is a link that might be useful:
aghh
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you, Sharon, for the additional information. That is good to know because I truly did want a photo of that snake; it was absolutely gorgeous! Hopefully s/he and I will cross paths again.

By the way, your snakes are beautiful!
lazy_gardens
9 years ago
Truly a snake to make you think you are hallucinating ... even the brownish ones tend to have a dinstinct head and "neck" area.

But here's one that fits the description:
graciia
9 years ago
sure looks scary, don't think I'll ever go close to one.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nature
Sharon McKenzie
9 years ago
Don't click on the link above, people. It's a spam link to a site selling phones and such. Nothing to do with "nature" whatsoever.

help id this snake i saw in san clemente, ca june 2014

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help id this snake i saw in san clemente, ca june 2014

Comments (8)

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Sharon McKenzie

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Sharon McKenzie

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Sharon McKenzie

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