Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pituophis, Species: P. catenifer
Western North America, spanning from southwestern Canada through the western United States down into northern Mexico.
Look up Gopher Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Pituophis, Species: P. catenifer
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, as it has a wide distribution, presumed large population, and high tolerance for modified habitats, though localized threats include road mortality and habitat destruction.
Physical Description
Characterized by a background color of yellowish, tan, or gray, overlaid with a series of dark brown, black, or reddish-brown blotches along the back and alternating spots on the sides. Head is slightly distinct from the neck with dark bars across the prefrontal region, and scales are keeled.
Size & Dimensions
Specimen pictured appears to be a juvenile roughly 1 to 2 feet long. Adults typically range from 36 to 72 inches (90 to 180 cm), with a maximum recorded length exceeding 90 inches.
Habitat
Found in a wide variety of habitats including deserts, coastal areas, prairies, brushlands, coniferous forests, and agricultural fields, from sea level up to elevations of around 9,000 feet.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily feeds on small mammals such as mice, rats, gophers, and voles, as well as birds, eggs, and occasionally lizards. Hunts by actively searching burrows and uses constriction to subdue prey.
Reproduction
Oviparous species, females typically lay clutches ranging from 2 to 24 eggs in underground burrows or beneath rocks and logs during the early summer months.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern, as it has a wide distribution, presumed large population, and high tolerance for modified habitats, though localized threats include road mortality and habitat destruction.
Cultural Significance
Highly beneficial to agriculture and ecosystems due to its efficiency in controlling rodent populations, leading to high tolerance among farmers and landowners.
Notable Features
Renowned for its dramatic display, which includes inflating the body, flattening the head, hissing loudly, and vibrating the tail to deter potential predators.