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Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer)

[/vc_column_text][gap size=”12px” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”1220″ img_size=”large” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded”][vc_column_text]Gophersnake, Rio Cocospera, Sonora, MX. Photo by Jim Rorabaugh[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2346″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” onclick=”img_link_large”][vc_column_text]Gophersnakes copulating, Santa Cruz County, AZ. Photo by Jim Rorabaugh[/vc_column_text][gap size=”12px” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2347″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large”][vc_column_text]Gophersnake 4 meters up into a juniper, Grant Creek, Pinaleno Mountains. Photo by Jim Rorabaugh.[/vc_column_text][gap size=”12px” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2348″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large”][vc_column_text]Gophersnake in Pine-oak woodland, Fort Huachuca, AZ. Photo by Jim Rorabaugh[/vc_column_text][gap size=”12px” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2351″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large”][vc_column_text]Gophersnake swimming in Fresno Cyn, Santa Cruz Co., AZ. Photo by Jim Rorabaugh[/vc_column_text][gap size=”12px” id=”” class=”” style=””][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2349″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large”][vc_column_text]Gophersnake, Photo by Young Cage[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2352″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large”][vc_column_text]Gophersnake, Photo by Young Cage[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2354″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large”][vc_column_text]Gophersnake eating a Round-tailed Ground Squirrel. Photo by Philip Brown[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2353″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large”][vc_column_text]Gophersnake eating a Round-tailed Ground Squirrel. Photo by Philip Brown[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”2350″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_rounded” onclick=”img_link_large”][vc_column_text]Gophersnake eating nestling White-winged Dove, Tucson. Photo by T. Tibbitts[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]

Description

The Sonoran Gophersnake is a heavy-bodied snake that occupies a wide variety of terrain in Arizona, from sand dunes at or near sea level to pine/oak subdivisions at over 8,000 feet in elevation. Hatchlings are around 11 inches (280 mm), and at maturity can exceed 7 feet (2133 mm) in length (although rarely). Sometimes pugnacious in demeanor, these snakes will exhibit gaping behavior, and are capable of exuding explosive hissing upon the approach of any would-be predator. This behavior, coupled with tail vibration and a superficial resemblance to rattlesnakes, often leads to the demise of the snake at the hands of humans who feel they are removing a venomous species of snake from wild or urban haunts. Prey items include, but are not limited to, lizards, snakes, bird eggs, birds and small mammals. Living prey items are dispatched by constriction.

Some personal observations: A pair kept in captivity bred in late April, the female laid 12 eggs in mid-June, ten of which hatched on 8-19-95. The other two eggs appear to have been slugs. Reproductive behaviors in the wild may or may not be similar. This author has three times seen young Gophersnakes exhibit “lay and wait” ambush strategies, where the snake lays sprawled out, its body nearly straight behind it, and its head pointing at or slightly in the edge of a small rodent burrow. The longest this posture has been observed was slightly over 14 hours with one individual snake. This author has seen a defensive posture assumed by retreating snakes, whereby the snake lifts its head from the ground, and cocks its neck at a 45 degree angle towards its aggressor, while offering as much of a broadside view as possible while fleeing. This author’s observations within the 100 mile circle have the species pegged from 1800 feet to over 6,000 feet, although the encounters above 6,000 feet are scarce (as is the presence of this author). This author has seen foraging Gophersnakes during every month of the year, although the rare sightings from November through February are usually sub-adults. Peak activity periods are late April through May, with huge numbers encountered in August and early September—mainly hatchlings. Lastly, this species is my most commonly observed non-venomous snake in our area. Perhaps this is a result of their comparatively large egg clutches coupled with their ability to rapidly increase in size.

Author: Roger A. Repp

Originally published in the Sonoran Herpetologist “Herpetofauna of the 100-mile Circle” 15 (12) 2002.

For additional information on this species, please see the following volumes and pages in the Sonoran Herpetologist: 2009 May:52; 2011 Nov:117-118; 2013 Dec:71-73.

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