Great Basin Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer deserticola • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pituophis, Species: Pituophis catenifer
Western North America; specifically the Great Basin region including parts of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming.
Look up Great Basin Gopher Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Venomous Status
Non-venomous; aglyphous (lacks specialized fangs).
Danger Level
Harmless. They are not dangerous to humans, though they can deliver a painful bite if provoked and are known for their loud, intimidating defensive hissing.
Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pituophis, Species: Pituophis catenifer
Conservation
Least Concern (IUCN). Generally common, though localized populations face threats from habitat loss and road mortality.
Physical Description
Large, heavy-bodied snake with a base color of cream or yellowish-tan. It features a series of dark brown or black square-like dorsal blotches that become more distinct toward the tail. The head is slightly wider than the neck, eyes have round pupils, and the scales are heavily keeled.
Size & Dimensions
The specimen pictured appears to be an adult approximately 3.5 to 4.5 feet long. The species typically ranges from 91 to 213 cm (3 to 7 feet) in total length.
Habitat
Varied habitats including semi-arid shrublands, grasslands, open woodlands, and desert scrub. They are found from sea level to 2,800 meters elevation, often utilizing rodent burrows for shelter.
Behavior & Temperament
Diurnal and crepuscular. They are famous for a dramatic defensive display where they flatten their heads, hiss loudly (using a specialized epiglottis), and vibrate their tails in leaf litter to mimic rattlesnakes.
Diet & Feeding
Active foragers that primarily eat small mammals (rodents, rabbits), birds, and occasionally lizards or eggs. They kill their prey via powerful constriction.
Reproduction
Oviparous (egg-laying). Females lay clutches of 3 to 24 eggs in late spring or early summer, which hatch in about 2 to 2.5 months.
Venom Profile
Non-venomous - no medically significant venom.
Look-alikes
Often confused with Western Rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis/oreganus) due to similar coloration and tail vibration. Gopher snakes are distinguished by their round pupils, narrower heads, and the absence of a rattle.
Conservation Status
Least Concern (IUCN). Generally common, though localized populations face threats from habitat loss and road mortality.
Cultural Significance
Highly valued by farmers and gardeners as effective natural pest control due to their heavy consumption of crop-damaging rodents.
Notable Features
Equipped with a unique glottis containing a small flap of cartilage that allows them to produce an exceptionally loud, rasping hiss that mimics the sound of a rattlesnake's rattle.