Gopher Snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pacific gopher snake |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pituophis
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| Species: |
catenifer
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The Pituophis catenifer is a type of snake found only in North America. It is a nonvenomous snake, meaning it is not poisonous. There are nine different kinds, or subspecies, of this snake.
People often mistake the gopher snake for a rattlesnake. However, you can tell them apart easily. Gopher snakes do not have black and white bands on their tails. Also, their heads are narrower than a rattlesnake's.
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What's in a Name?
The scientific name for this snake is catenifer. This word comes from Latin and means "chain-bearing". It refers to the chain-like pattern you can see on the snake's back.
How to Spot a Gopher Snake
Adult gopher snakes can grow quite long. They are usually between 3 and 7 feet (91 to 213 cm) in length.
Their backs are often yellowish or light brown. They have large, dark brown or black blotches. You might also see smaller dark spots on their sides. Their bellies are yellowish, sometimes with brown marks.
How Gopher Snakes Behave
Gopher snakes have a special way to protect themselves. When they feel threatened, they puff up their bodies. They then curl into a pose that looks a lot like a rattlesnake ready to strike.
However, a gopher snake usually strikes with its mouth closed. It uses its blunt nose to "warn off" animals that might want to harm it. They also shake their tails, just like rattlesnakes do.
Scientists have studied this tail shaking. They found that gopher snakes on islands without rattlesnakes shake their tails for shorter times. But gopher snakes in places like mainland California, where many rattlesnakes live, shake their tails longer. This suggests that gopher snakes might be copying rattlesnakes. This way, predators might think they are dangerous and leave them alone.
How Long Do They Live?
In the wild, gopher snakes usually live for about 12 to 15 years. However, some gopher snakes kept by people have lived much longer. The oldest one recorded lived for over 33 years!
Different Names for the Same Snake
This snake, or its different kinds, has many common names. Some of these include:
- Pacific gopher snake
- Henry snake
- Coast gopher snake
- Bullsnake
- Western gopher snake
- Sonoran gopher snake
- Great Basin gopher snake
- Blow snake
- Yellow gopher snake
Different Kinds of Gopher Snakes
Scientists generally agree on six main kinds, or subspecies, of gopher snakes. These are found in Canada, the USA, and Mexico.
Some of these subspecies include:
- Sonoran gophersnake (P. c. affinis): Found in the southwestern USA and parts of northwest Mexico.
- San Diego gophersnake (P. c. annectens): Lives in southwest California and northwest Baja California.
- Pacific gophersnake (P. c. catenifer): Found in Oregon and California, west of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
- Great Basin gophersnake (P. c. deserticola): Lives in parts of Canada, the western USA (like Washington, Oregon, Nevada, Utah), and northern Arizona.
- Bullsnake (P. c. sayi): Found in central USA (like Kansas, Texas, Montana) and northern Mexico.
There are also other subspecies found on islands, but their exact classification is still being discussed by scientists.
Images for kids
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Sonoran gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer affinis), Doña Ana County, New Mexico (August 17, 2010)
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Sonoran gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer affinis) Hidalgo County, New Mexico (18 April 2017)
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San Diego gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer annectens) San Luis Obispo County, California (May 9, 2009)
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Pacific gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer catenifer), Alpine County, California (March 27, 2004)
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Great Basin gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola), Elko County, Nevada (May 25, 2006)
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Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi), Mason County, Illinois (June 13, 2018)
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See also
In Spanish: Serpiente gopher del Pacífico para niños
