Bull Snake

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Bull Snake

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Pituophis
Species:	P. catenifer
Subspecies:	P. c. sayi

Trinomial name

Pituophis catenifer sayi
Schlegel, 1837

Bull Snake is a species (Pituophis catenifer) and also a subspecies (Pituophis catenifer sayi) of large non-venomous colubrid snake, widespread in the western half of the United States and northern Mexico. The epithet sayi is in honor of the renowned zoologist Thomas Say.

The species also goes by the name Gopher Snake. For a list of P. catenifer subspecies, see Pituophis.

It is inconvenient for the bull snake species to have the same common name as the bull snake subspecies. The solution is to speak of the "bull snake species" or the "bull snake subspecies" whenever the distinction is important ... or to use the formal Latin names. Similar situations are not particularly unusual in taxonomy. A familiar example is the nightshade family (Solanaceae) and the nightshade genus (Solanum).

This article covers the species as a whole; differences between one subspecies and the next are minor.

1 Range
2 Description
3 Diet
4 Behavior
5 In captivity
6 Gallery
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Range

Bull snakes have one of the most expansive ranges of any species in the Pituophis genus. They can be found throughout much of the western half of United States and northern Mexico. This includes the U.S. states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, California, Wyoming, Montana, and Wisconsin.

[edit] Description

Bull snake in California.

Bull snakes often exceed 6 feet (1.8 m) in length, and specimens of up to 100 inches (254 cm) have been recorded. This makes them among the largest US snakes, although generally not as long as indigo snakes or as big around as rattlesnakes. Males are generally larger than females. They are usually yellow in color, with brown, black or sometimes reddish colored blotching. Many color variations have been found, including albinos and white varieties.

[edit] Diet

Bull snakes eat small mammals, such as mice, rats, large bugs, as well as ground nesting birds, lizards, and the young of other snakes. Juvenile bull snakes depend on insects, small lizards and baby mice.

(The idea that bull snakes occasionally eat rattlesnakes is sometimes touted as a reason for humans not to harm bull snakes when encountering them in the wild, although a better reason is the bull snake's role in controlling warm-blooded vermin such as rodents. Note that many snakes have a natural immunity to venom, just as rattlesnakes themselves are immune to their own.)

[edit] Behavior

Though some Bullsnakes can be docile, and with some time become accostomed to handling, most Bullsnakes are quite defensive and known for their perceived "bad attitude".

When threatened by anything as large as a human, a Bullsnake's primary defense is to flee, if possible.

Bullsnakes are often confused for rattlesnakes, and killed by laypersons. Due to its coloration, dorsal pattern, and semi-keeled scalation; the Bullsnake superficially resembles the Western Diamondback Rattler ( Crotalus atrox ), which is also common within the same range. The Bullsnake capitalizes on this similarity by performing a very impressive rattlesnake impression when threatened. First, it hisses, or forcibly exhales through a bisected glottis, which flaps back and forth producing a very convincing "rattle" sound. It will also take on a rattlesnake-like "S-curve" body posture, as if it is going to strike. The Bullsnake will commonly vibrate its tail rapidly amongst the brush or leaves, and flatten its head to make it take on a more characteristic triangular-shaped head of the rattlesnake. These defensive behaviors are meant to scare away threats, not sound an attack.

In contrast to rattlesnakes, which usually keep their tail elevated in order to sound the most efficient rattle, Bullsnakes tend to keep their tail in contact with the ground, in order to beat it against something to make a sound.

Their rattlesnake mimic is so impressive, that it is frequently the Bullsnake's very undoing when discovered by humans.

Bullsnakes customarily kill their prey by constriction before consuming it.

[edit] In captivity

Bull snakes are extremely common in the exotic pet trade. They are frequently captive bred for color and pattern. They make easy-to-care-for, hardy captives, though their size can make them intimidating.

A 10 gallon tank will suffice for a one-year-old snake, but 20 gallon or larger tanks are required for larger specimens. Their care is similar to that of a corn snake. They must be provided with a hiding place of some sort and a fake plant or vine is also recommended. The temperatures should stay between 75 and 85. This can be achieved using a heat mat under the tank, or a heat lamp above the tank (which also provides a great basking spot). Only half of the tank should be heated so the snake has a chance to move to the cooler area if desired. Fresh water should be provided at all times. Snakes should be fed an appropriate sized prey item (roughly 1.5 times the width of the snake) every 7-10 days. If properly cared for, these snakes can live 20-25 years.