Pituophis catenifer affinis, commonly known as the Sonoran gopher snake, is a nonvenomous subspecies of colubrid snake that is endemic to the southwestern United States. It is one of six recognized subspecies of the gopher snake, Pituophis catenifer.Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS). www.itis.gov.
Geographic range
It is found from central Texas across the Southwestern United States to southeastern California, Arizona, and south into the northern states of Mexico.
Description Adults average in total length. The maximum recorded total length is .
The saddle-shaped dorsal blotches are reddish brown, except for near and on the tail, where they are dark brown or blackish.
The rostral is about as long as it is broad, not elongated as in other Pituophis subspecies.Smith, H.M., and E.D. Brodie, Jr. 1982. Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. Golden Press. New York. 240 pp. (paperback). (Pituophis melanoleucus affinis, p. 186.)
Habitat It primarily inhabits the Sonoran Desert in the Southwest USA, and into northern Mexico.
Diet They feed on small rodents, hence the common name gopher snake.
Behavior They are moderately defensive but can be tamed, and become gentle. They have hard, tough skin on their noses used to burrow into gopher holes and the burrows of other rodents in search of prey. During the winter they brumate. When threatened by humans and farm equipment, they tend not to retreat but to hiss and shake their tails, a response that may lead to their being confused with rattlesnakes and killed.
Reproduction P. c. affinis is oviparous. Adult females lay 7-22 eggs in July or August. The eggs average . The hatchlings are about in total length.
References
Further reading Hallowell, E. 1852. Descriptions of new Species of Reptiles inhabiting North America. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 6: 177–182. (Pityophis affinis, p. 181.) Stebbins, Robert C., and McGinnis, Samuel M. Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of California: Revised Edition (California Natural History Guides) University of California Press, 2012 (p.371-373)
External links Wildlifenorthamerica.com: Fact Sheet for the Sonoran Gopher Snake (Pituophis catenifer affinis)