[3] The subspecific name, ruddocki, is in honor of Dr. John C. Ruddock who was medical director for the Richfield Oil Corporation.

[2] Lowe & Woodin, 1954 (Shaw, 1802) H.M. Smith, 1941 (Cope, 1892) Brattstrom & Warren, 1953 (Say, 1823) Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Masticophis.

Coachwhips are thin-bodied snakes with small heads and large eyes with round pupils.

[9] Coachwhips are diurnal, and actively hunt and eat lizards, small birds, and rodents.

They are curious snakes with good eyesight, and are sometimes seen raising their heads above the level of the grass or rocks to see what is around them.

[13] The primary myth concerning coachwhips, that they chase people, likely arises from the snake and the person both being frightened, and both just happening to be going the same way to escape.