Common name : Pacific gopher snake, Coast gopher snake, Western gopher snake
Scientific name : Pituophis catenifer catenifer
Family : Colubridae
Native to : North America
Interesting fact : When threatened, it puffs up its body and curls like a pit viper attempting to strike, but it strikes with a closed mouth.
Conservation status : Least Concern
It is the longest snake in Arizona measuring 90-215 cm. Gopher snakes are yellow to tan with large red or brown blotches on the back. Found in a range of habitats they constrict their prey such as rodents, rabbits, lizards, birds, other reptiles and insects. They make good pets as they do not coil like other snakes.
