Pacific gopher snake
| Pacific gopher snake | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Pituophis |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | P. c. catenifer
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| Trinomial name | |
| Pituophis catenifer catenifer (Blainville, 1835)
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| Synonyms | |
The Pacific gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) is a subspecies of large non-venomous colubrid snake native to the western coast of North America. Pacific gopher snakes are one of California’s most common snake species[2]. They often get confused for rattlesnakes because they mimic similar patterns and defense mechanisms. As a result, gopher snakes can often avoid confrontation without needing to rely on their non-venomous nature for survival[3].
Description
Pacific gopher snake adults range in size from 3–7 feet (91–213 centimeters) in total length. However, most of the subspecies reach a length of 4–5 feet (122–152 cm). The hatchlings are relatively long, and they have been recorded at lengths upward of 20 inches (51 cm).[4][5]
The Pacific gopher snake has a base color ranging from yellow to dark brown and has a gray coloring on the sides of the body. It is a spotted snake, with the spots being dark brown. Usually there are 41 to 99 spots on the body, while the tail spots range from 14 to 33. The side of the body has 2 or 3 rows of alternating black and brown spots.[6]
A snake with keeled scales, and a narrow head that is wider than the neck, the Pacific gopher snake also displays a protruding rostral scale on the tip of the snout. The two most common base colors are straw and straw gray, though the species' color varies widely.[4] The dorsal blotches, or saddles, are well-defined and generally dark to chocolate brown, though some specimens have had black blotches.[4][5] The side blotches are often brown or gray. The back of the neck is dark brown.[5] In many areas, such as Solano County, California, the snake can be found in a striped morph.[7]
The ventral side may be cream-colored to yellowish with dark spots. On the dorsal side, especially near the tail, there is often a reddish coloration.
Identification
As aforementioned, there are two to three rows of spots on the side of the Pacific gopher snake. However, the San Diego gopher snake (P. c. annectens) has 3 to 4 rows of smaller spots on its side. The Pacific gopher snake's saddle spots do not have the barren characteristic as those of the San Diego gopher snakes do. Also, the spots in the second row of spots are much larger on P. c. catenifer as compared to P. c. annectens. Finally, the Pacific gopher snake generally has more saddle spots than the San Diego gopher snake.[6]
Feeding behavior
The diet of pacific gopher snakes mainly consists of small rodents. They also consume birds, bird eggs, lizards, and occasionally insects or bats, depending on what is available in its habitat[3]. The Pacific gopher snake is diurnal, hunting for prey during the day. However, it may exhibit nocturnal behavior in warmer conditions.
To hunt, they will enter underground burrows, perch on sites during the day, or strike unsuspecting prey resting at night, ultimately using constriction to immobilize and kill their prey[8]. Its preference for agricultural fields and open spaces makes it an important natural pest controller in its ecosystem, helping manage rodent populations.[9]
Social behavior
Like other gopher snakes, the Pacific gopher snake can produce a loud hiss when agitated or fearful.[5] When threatened, this species will inflate its body, flatten its head, and vigorously shake its tail, which may produce a rattling sound if done in dry vegetation.[4][5] However, gopher snakes are non venomous, generally good natured, and not harmful to humans.[5]
Pacific gopher snakes are typically non-social with other snakes, but will share communal hibernacula with other snakes during the winter.[10]
Predators
Foxes, badgers, hawks, and coyotes are typical predators of gopher snakes[10].
Activity Patterns
Pacific gopher snakes prefer warmer temperatures, ideally around 75 to 90° Fahrenheit, and drier habitats such as meadows, fields and agricultural farmlands[11]. They are seldom found in dense forests or cold environments. To maintain warm internal temperatures, Pacific gopher snakes will often bask in sunlight on rocks.
When temperatures heat up beyond the Pacific gopher snake’s tolerance, they will seek cooler temperatures in burrows, leaf litter, shade, under rocks, or swim in small bodies of water[10]. They will undergo periods of inactivity in the winter from the months of Late November to March, often residing in abandoned burrows left by other animals[10].
Life expectancy
The Pacific gopher snake is observed to live 12 to 15 years in the wild. The oldest known individual lived over 33 years in captivity.[4]
Reproduction
They are an oviparous species in which eggs are laid from June to August and hatch in 2 to 2.5 months.[5]
In captive breeding, the snake goes through a winter brumation period to improve breeding success. The clutches average 12–14 eggs and hatch in the same time period as in the wild.[4]
Geographic range
The Pacific gopher snake ranges up and down the West Coast of the United States,[4] its range ending in the southern coast of California.[5] Gopher snakes are rarely seen above 2,000 feet (610 meters) and are most commonly seen adjacent to farms in semi-arid brushy areas. The Pacific gopher snake can also be found in southern British Columbia and Alberta, and in Mexico.[12]
Conservation status
The Pacific gopher snake is considered to be a species of least concern in terms of conservation[10]. It has a wide distribution across the western United States, extending into parts of southern Canada and Mexico.
References
- ^ Stejneger, L.H., and T. Barbour. 1917. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts. 125 pp. (Pituophis catenifer catenifer, p. 85.)
- ^ Diego, Mailing Address: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive San; Us, CA 92106 Phone: 619 523-4285 Contact. "Snakes - Cabrillo National Monument (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Gopher Snake (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Pituophis Page". Kingsnake.com. Retrieved 2008-05-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Pituophis catenifer catenifer - Pacific Gopher Snake". California Herps. Retrieved 2009-10-05.
- ^ a b "Pinesnake Page". Retrieved 2009-10-05.
- ^ Fitch, Henry S. (1935). "An Abnormal Pattern in a Gopher Snake". Copeia. 1935 (3): 144–146. doi:10.2307/1436555. ISSN 0045-8511.
- ^ Rodríguez-Robles, Javier A. (2002-10-04). "Feeding ecology of North American gopher snakes (Pituophis catenifer, Colubridae)". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 77 (2): 165–183. doi:10.1046/j.1095-8312.2002.00098.x. ISSN 0024-4066.
- ^ "The Pituophis Page - The Online Reference Guide to Snakes of the Genus Pituophis". www.kingsnake.com. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
- ^ a b c d e "Oakland Zoo | Pacific Gopher Snake". www.oaklandzoo.org. Retrieved 2024-10-22.
- ^ RodrÍguez-Robles, Javier A. (1 June 2003). "Home Ranges of Gopher Snakes (Pituophis catenifer, Colubridae) in Central California". The American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists – via BioOne Digital Library.
- ^ "Oregon Zoo: Pacific Gopher Snake". Retrieved 2009-10-04.
External links
- Species Pituophis catenifer at The Reptile Database