gopher snake
(Pituophis catenifer)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
Gopher snake is a large, nonvenomous, typical snake. It is the largest snake found in Minnesota. There are seven subspecies of gopher snake. Bull snake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) is the only subspecies that occurs in Minnesota. The tail is yellow with dark rings. The head is yellow with irregular dark markings. |
Size |
37″ to 72″ |
Similar Species |
Timber rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus) has a black tail with a tan segmented rattle. Western fox snake (Mintonius ramspotti) head is reddish-brown and is mostly unmarked. |
Habitat |
Sandy prairies, bluff prairies, fields, pastures, savannas, and open woodlands. Sandy soil. |
Biology |
Behavior |
Gopher snake is a rattlesnake mimic. When disturbed it will rapidly shake its tail against vegetation or an object to produce a rattle-like sound. It is not poisonous but will strike and deliver a painful bite if cornered. |
Lifespan |
10 to 25 years |
Life Cycle |
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Food |
Mostly small mammals, but also birds, bird eggs, frogs, and lizards. |
Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 5/22/2024 | ||
Occurrence |
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Widespread; common in parts of its range; possibly declining in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa due to habitat loss. |
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Taxonomy |
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Class |
Reptilia (reptiles) |
Superorder |
Lepidosauria |
Order |
Squamata (snakes and lizards) |
Suborder |
Serpentes (snakes) |
Infraorder |
Alethinophidia |
Superfamily |
Colubroidea |
Family |
Colubridae (colubrid snakes) |
Subfamily |
Colubrinae |
Genus |
Pituophis (pine, gopher, and bullsnakes) |
This species was formerly classified as Pituophis melanoleucus. In 1995 the Louisiana pine snake was recognized as a subspecies, P. m. ruthveni. Mitrocondrial DNA analysis in 2000 showed that the species should be split into four distinct species; pine snake (P. melanoleucus), gopher snakes and bullsnake (P. catenifer), Louisiana pine snake (P. ruthveni), and cape gopher snake (P. vertebralis). |
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Subordinate Taxa |
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bull snake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) Great Basin gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) Pacific gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer) San Diego gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer annectens) San Martin gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer fulginatus) Santa Cruz gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer pumilus) Sonoran gopher snake (Pituophis catenifer affinis) |
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Synonyms |
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Coluber catenifer Elaphis reticulatus Pituophis catenifer Pituophis heermanni Pituophis melanoleucus sayi Pituophis wilkesii Pityophis hæmatois |
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Common Names |
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gopher snake |
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Visitor Photos |
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Lane Keller |
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| Tucked under the grass next to the trail. |
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Mike B. |
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| I believe this to be an example of the bullsnake subspecies. |
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Jeff LeClere |
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Nancy Falkum |
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Yesterday, May 21, 2022 at KWD South Unit, if you look closely you will find the Bull snake. First one I have seen in a couple of years at the dunes. |
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Christa Rittberg |
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| Photo taken in Wild River State Park. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
Pituophis catenifer sayi |
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About
Bullsnake |
Pituophis catenifer sayi (Bullsnake) |
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Visitor Videos |
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Other Videos |
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Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) |
About
Uploaded on Feb 7, 2011 * Family: Colubridae, More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullsnake |
Bullsnake Field Observations - Bull Snake |
About
Uploaded on Oct 25, 2007 A pair of bullsnakes, aka bull snakes in an Iowa sand prairie. |
Bullsnake |
About
Uploaded on Mar 29, 2010 My name is Orry Martin: The Texas Snake Hunter. This is the Bullsnake which is a close relative to the Sonoran Gopher snake of Texas. These snakes are famous for their ability to exhale air past a flap in their throats to produce a loud hissing/rattle sound. All of the snakes in this film were released unharmed and were captured strictly for educational purposes and photography. All pictures were taken by me on my Nikon D200. |
Colorado Bullsnake (Gopher Snake) in the Wild |
About
Published on May 6, 2013 The Colorado Bull Snake, or Gopher Snake, (Pituophis catenifer sayi) is one of the largest snakes indigenous to Northern America. In this short documentary clip, self-proclaimed British Naturalist, Matt Abraxas, reveals the secret life of a male Colorado Bullsnake while it searches for an ellusive mate. |
Backroad Reptiles Episode 4: Mess with the Bull, You Get the Horns |
About
Published on Sep 24, 2013 Aaron comes across a large, angry bull snake (pituophis catenifer sayi) crossing a busy backroad. Enjoy the video and follow us on instagram at backroadreptiles! |
Visitor Sightings |
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Lane Keller |
Location: Crow-Hassan Park Reserve Tucked under the grass next to the trail. |
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| Mike B. 5/28/2022 |
Location: Sherburne County I believe this to be an example of the bullsnake subspecies. |
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| Nancy Falkum 5/21/2022 |
Location: Kellogg Weaver Dunes SNA, Weaver Dunes Unit
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| Jeff LeClere 9/19/2017 |
Location: Yellow Medicine County |
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| Christa Rittberg 6/9/2017 |
Location: Chisago County, MN Photo taken in Wild River State Park. |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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