Pituophis catenifer
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Pituophis catenifer
| Pituophis catenifer | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Colubrinae |
| Genus: | Pituophis |
| Species: | P. catenifer |
| Binomial name | |
| Pituophis catenifer (Blainville, 1835) |
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| Synonyms | |
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Coluber catenifer Blainville, 1835 |
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Gopher Snake (BullSnake) is a harmless colubrid species found in North America. Six subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.[2] The specific name catenifer is Latin for 'chain bearing', referring to the dorsal color pattern. This snake is found throughout Kansas, and is most common in the third region. This snake is often mistaken for a diamondback rattlesnake but can be easily distinguished from a rattlesnake by the lack of black and white banding on its tail, and the narrower head it has.
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Contents
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Description
Adults specimens are 36-84 inches (91–213 cm) in length.[1] Dorsally they are yellowish or pale brown, with a series of large dark brown or black blotches, and smaller dark spots on the sides. Ventrally they are yellowish, either uniform or with brown markings.[3]
Behavior
The Gopher snake has an odd defense mechanism, in which it will puff its body up and curl itself into the classic strike pose of the pit viper genus, but rather than an open mouthed strike, the gopher snake is known for striking with a closed mouth, using its blunt nose to "warn-off" possible predators. It will often also shake its tail to confuse predators into thinking it is a rattle snake. This works best when the snake is in dry leaves or gravel. It usually hunts its prey on land, but occasionally ventures out into ponds to hunt frogs.
Common names
Pacific gopher snake, coast gopher snake, bull snake, Churchill's bull snake, Oregon bull snake, Pacific pine snake, western bull snake, western gopher snake, Sonoran gopher snake, western pine snake, yellow gopher snake.[1]
Subspecies
| Subspecies[2] | Taxon author[2] | Common name | Geographic range |
|---|---|---|---|
| P. c. affinis | (Hallowell, 1852) | Sonoran gopher snake | |
| P. c. annectens | Baird & Girard, 1853 | San Diego gopher snake | |
| P. c. catenifer | (Blainville, 1835) | Pacific gopher snake | The United States, from Oregon west of the Cascade Range, south into California, west of the Sierra Nevada to northern Santa Barbara County and the Tehachapi Mountains.[1] |
| P. c. deserticola | Stejneger, 1893 | Great Basin gopher snake | |
| P. c. pumilis | Klauber, 1946 | Santa Cruz gopher snake | |
| P. c. sayi | (Schlegel, 1837) | Bullsnake | Central and western North America. |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. 2 volumes. Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. ISBN 0-8014-0463-0.
- ^ a b c "Pituophis catenifer". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=209400. Retrieved 4 February 2009.
- ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1894. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume II. London.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pituophis catenifer |
- Pituophis catenifer at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 4 February 2009.
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