California Whipsnake or Striped Racer
Masticophis lateralis lateralis
There are two subspecies of the California whipsnakes are M. l. lateralis, the chaparral whipsnake, and M. l. euryxanthus, the Alameda whipsnake. The chaparral whipsnake can be found from Baja California through California inhabiting a variety of habitats. The Alameda whipsnake can be found in the southern area of Alameda county, the northern area of Santa Clara County, and the western San Joaquin county.
This fella was sunbathing as I was walking through the canyon and saw him two steps in front of me. Before I could get my iPhone out he made a run for it and I was able to get these pictures of him checking if the coast is clear.
- Number of confirmed specimens : 1
- Number of pictures : 2
References
Stebbins, Robert C. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. 3rd ed., Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003.
California whipsnake, Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 25 Dec 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_whipsnake. Accessed 01, May 2026