Kingdom Animalia Suborder Serpentes Subfamily Colubrinae Scientific name Pituophis Phylum Chordata Order Scaled reptiles | Subphylum Vertebrata Family Colubridae Tribe Lampropeltini Higher classification Colubridae Rank Genus | |
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Lower classifications Bullsnake, Pituophis catenifer, Pituophis melanoleucus, Pacific gopher snake, Louisiana pinesnake | ||
Largest gopher snake 28ft hunting rodents pituophis catenifer
Pituophis is a genus of nonvenomous colubrid snakes commonly referred to as gopher snakes, pine snakes, and bull snakes, which are endemic to North America.
Contents
- Largest gopher snake 28ft hunting rodents pituophis catenifer
- Florida pine snake pituophis melanoleucus mugitus
- Geographic range
- Description
- Modified epiglottis
- Species
- References
Florida pine snake pituophis melanoleucus mugitus
Geographic range
Species within the genus are found throughout the western and southern United States and in Mexico.
Description
All species of Pituophis are large and powerfully built. The head is relatively small in proportion to the body, and it is only slightly distinct from the neck. The rostral is enlarged and elongated, imparting a characteristic somewhat pointed shape to the head. All the species occurring in the United States have 4 prefrontals instead of the usual 2.
Modified epiglottis
In all snakes of the genus Pituophis the epiglottis is peculiarly modified so that it is thin, erect, and flexible. When a stream of air is forced from the trachea, the epiglottis vibrates, thereby producing the peculiarly loud, hoarse hissing for which bull snakes, gopher snakes, and pine snakes are well known.
Species
