Gophersnake / Bullsnake
Middle American Gopher Snake
HarmlessPituophis lineaticollis
3 photographs of the Middle American Gopher Snake. © Tommy Andriollo.
The Middle American Gopher Snake (Pituophis lineaticollis) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Also called
- Gophersnake / Bullsnake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- Large, 4–7 ft.
- Habitat
- Grasslands, deserts, and farmland.
- Behavior
- Loud hissers that mimic rattlesnakes by vibrating the tail; valuable rodent predators, but harmless.
- Identify
- Large, blotched, with a slightly pointed snout and keeled scales — no rattle.
About the Middle American Gopher Snake
Pituophis lineaticollis, commonly known as the Middle American gopher snake or the cincuate bull snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Guatemala and southeastern Mexico. There are two recognized subspecies.
Geographic range
P. lineaticollis is found in Guatemala and in the Mexican states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca, and Querétaro.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of P. lineaticollis is forest, at altitudes of 800–2,500 m (2,600–8,200 ft).
Description
The longest specimen of P. lineaticollis measured by Boulenger in 1894 had a total length of 1.5 m (4.9 ft), which included a tail 23 cm (9.1 in) long.
Reproduction
P. lineaticollis is oviparous.
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
Pituophis lineaticollis gibsoni Stuart, 1954
Pituophis lineaticollis lineaticollis (Cope, 1861)
Etymology
The genus name Pituophis is a Latinized modern scientific Greek compound Πιτυόφις : "pine snake"; from Ancient Greek: πίτυς (pítus, "pine"), and Ancient Greek: ὄφις (óphis, "snake").
The subspecific name, gibsoni, is in honor of Colvin A. Gibson (born 1918), a physician who specialized in tropical medicine.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Middle American Gopher Snake
- Is the Middle American Gopher Snake venomous?
- No. The Middle American Gopher Snake (Pituophis lineaticollis) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Middle American Gopher Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Middle American Gopher Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Middle American Gopher Snake dangerous?
- The Middle American Gopher Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Middle American Gopher Snake live?
- The Middle American Gopher Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including Mexico, Guatemala. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Middle American Gopher Snake?
- Large, blotched, with a slightly pointed snout and keeled scales — no rattle.
- How big does the Middle American Gopher Snake get?
- Large, 4–7 ft.
- Why is it called the Middle American Gopher Snake?
- The genus name Pituophis is a Latinized modern scientific Greek compound Πιτυόφις : "pine snake"; from Ancient Greek: πίτυς (pítus, "pine"), and Ancient Greek: ὄφις (óphis, "snake"). The subspecific name, gibsoni, is in honor of Colvin A. Gibson (born 1918), a physician who specialized in tropical medicine.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Pituophis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Pituophis lineaticollis
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.