Great Basin gopher snake
The Great Basin Gophersnake (Pituophis catenifer deserticola) is a subspecies of nonvenomous Gopher snake. It is found in parts of western United States and adjacent southwestern Canada and is often mistaken for the Prairie rattlesnake.
Great Basin gophersnakes have dorsal spots that are dark brown or black, and they are connected to each other by very narrow lines that run along each side of the anterior part of the body. On each side of the neck, there usually is a dark longitudinal stripe that is surrounded by some lighter coloring, which eventually breaks up towards the posterior end of the snake and turns into dashes or small spots. The body scales are keeled, and the head has a pointed shape. The underbelly has a creamy color with small, dark, irregular blotches.
Great Basin gophersnakes are found in the United States in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and in Canada in British Columbia. The preferred habitat of these snakes includes grasslands, woodlands, deserts, coastal sage scrub, agricultural land, and riparian areas.
Great Basin gophersnakes are diurnal and spend a lot of their time in burrows or under rocks where they also search for their prey. They are great climbers, swimmers, and burrowers They are one of the most commonly found snakes when people are hiking or driving on the road. They are easily seen in spring when the males are out and about trying to find a mate. The hatchlings are easily found in late August and September when they emerge from their eggs. Great Basin gophersnakes are not dangerous unless provoked. When defending themselves from predators, they will elevate and inflate the body, and flatten the head into a triangular shape. Loud hissing noises will ensue, along with quick shaking of the tail, mimicking the sound of a deadly Great Basin rattlesnake.
Great Basin gophersnakes have a carnivorous diet. They prey upon a variety of organisms, including lizards, birds, and their eggs, especially favoring small mammals.
These snakes mate in spring and females lay their eggs from June to August. Clutches usually consist of 3-24 eggs, with 7 eggs being the average. It usually takes the eggs 2 to 2.5 months to hatch. When the young emerge, they typically measure 30-46 cm (12-18 in) in total length. They are completely independent at hatching and don't require parental care.
Great Basin gophersnakes don’t face any major threats at present. In some areas of their native range, they suffer from habitat loss mainly due to intensive urban development.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Great Basin gophersnake total population size. Generally, the Gopher snake species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, and its numbers today are stable.
Gopher snakes play an important role in the ecosystem they live in. Due to their diet habits, they act as important predators of small mammals including pest rodents.
