出典(authority):フリー百科事典『ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』「2015/03/17 03:31:20」(JST)
| Pituophis catenifer | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
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Least Concern (IUCN 3.1) |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Subfamily: | Colubrinae |
| Genus: | Pituophis |
| Species: | P. catenifer |
| Binomial name | |
| Pituophis catenifer (Blainville, 1835) |
|
| Synonyms | |
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Pituophis catenifer is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to North America. Six subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies, Pituophis catenifer catenifer, described here.[5] This snake is often mistaken for a diamondback rattlesnake but can be easily distinguished from a rattlesnake by the lack of black and white banding on its tail, and by the shape of its head which is narrower than a rattlesnake's.
The specific name, catenifer, is Latin for "chain bearing", referring to the dorsal color pattern.
Adults specimens are 36-84 inches (91–213 cm) in length.[4] Dorsally they are yellowish or pale brown, with a series of large dark brown or black blotches, and smaller dark spots on the sides. Ventrally they are yellowish, either uniform or with brown markings.[1]
Gopher snakes make good pets because they never tend to coil like other snake. It requires a 30-gallon terrarium and they need a hiding place such as a hide box or a cave.
The gopher snake has an odd defensive mechanism, in which it will puff up its body and curl itself into the classic strike pose of a pit viper. However, rather than delivering an open-mouthed strike, the gopher snake is known for striking with a closed mouth, using its blunt nose to "warn-off" possible predators. Also, it will often shake its tail, confusing predators into thinking it is a rattlesnake. This works best when the snake is in dry leaves or on gravel. It usually hunts its prey on land, but occasionally ventures out into ponds to hunt frogs.
Wild gopher snakes typically live twelve to fifteen years, but the oldest captive recorded lived over thirty-three years.[6]
Pacific gopher snake, Henry snake, coast gopher snake, bull snake, Churchill's bull snake, Oregon bull snake, Pacific pine snake, western bull snake, western gopher snake, Sonoran gopher snake, western pine snake, yellow gopher snake.[4]
| Subspecies[5] | Taxon author[5] | Common name | Geographic range |
|---|---|---|---|
| P. c. affinis | (Hallowell, 1852) | Sonoran gopher snake | |
| P. c. annectens | Baird & Girard, 1853 | San Diego gopher snake | |
| P. c. catenifer | (Blainville, 1835) | Pacific gopher snake | The United States, from Oregon west of the Cascade Range, south into California, west of the Sierra Nevada to northern Santa Barbara County and the Tehachapi Mountains.[4] |
| P. c. deserticola | Stejneger, 1893 | Great Basin gopher snake | |
| P. c. pumilis | Klauber, 1946 | Santa Cruz gopher snake | |
| P. c. sayi | (Schlegel, 1837) | Bullsnake | Central and western North America. |
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pituophis catenifer. |
| Wikispecies has information related to: Pituophis catenifer |
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| 関連記事 | 「snake」 |