Cape gopher snake

{{Short description|Species of snake}} {{speciesbox | name = Cape and Baja gopher snake | image = Cape gopher snake.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>Brad Hollingsworth, Santos-Barrera, G. 2007. Pituophis vertebralis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007: e.T63875A12723819. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63875A12723819.en. Downloaded on 10 October 2018.</ref> | genus = Pituophis | species = vertebralis | authority = ([[Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville|Blainville]], 1835) | synonyms = * ''Coluber vertebralis'' Blainville, 1835 * ''Rhinechis vertebralis'' — [[André Marie Constant Duméril|A.M.C. Duméril]], 1853 * ''Pituophis vertebralis'' — A.M.C. Duméril & [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]], 1854 * ''Pituophis catenifer vertebralis'' — [[Samuel Garman|Garman]], 1884 * ''Pityophis vertebralis'' — [[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], 1900 * ''Pituophis vertebralis'' — [[Leonhard Hess Stejneger|Stejneger]] & [[Thomas Barbour|Barbour]], 1917 * ''Pituophis catenifer vertebralis'' — Hirschkorn & Skubowius, 2011<ref>[[Leonhard Hess Stejneger|Stejneger, H.]], and [[Thomas Barbour|T. Barbour.]] 1917. ''A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles''. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, Massachusetts. 125 pp. (''Pituophis vertebralis'', p. 86.)</ref><ref>The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.</ref> }}

The '''Cape gopher snake''' or '''Baja gopher snake''' ('''''Pituophis vertebralis''''') is a [[species]] of non[[venomous]] [[Colubridae|colubrid]] snake [[Endemism|endemic]] to extreme southern [[Baja California Sur]], [[Mexico]]. They have become increasingly popular companions for people interested in the [[exotic pet]] trade, due to their extreme color variations and relatively docile [[behavior]]. It was previously considered to be a subspecies of ''[[Pituophis catenifer]]''. There has been controversy whether the Baja Gopher Snake is a lower classification of the Cape Gopher Snake. Some say the Baja Gopher Snake should be in a separate sub-species of Pituophis Vertebralis Bimaris, while Cape Gopher Snakes should remain Pituophis Vertebralis Vertebralis. Many people mistake the two as the same sub species and have cased some cross-breeding between the two. In captivity the bloodlines are nearly all related and breeding has become especially difficult in terms of keeping the bloodlines alive.

==Description== The Cape gopher snake is named after the location of its natural [[habitat]], the [[Baja California Peninsula]]. Here, the snake can only be found at high elevations on the southern tip of the [[peninsula]], where [[temperatures]] usually remain a mild 78 °F (25.5 °C). Hobbyists who own a Cape gopher snake commonly assume that the snake's natural habitat is significantly warmer, then proceed to create a dangerously hot [[Natural environment|environment]]. This lack of understanding is presumably due to the snake's [[Rare species|rarity]].

A single Cape gopher snake can exhibit wild color and pattern variations along the length of its body. Most begin with bright H-shaped marks in differing orange shades against an intense yellow background. As the patterns ae traced down toward the tip of the tail, they begin to change in shape and darken until they are completely black, while the yellow background loses its intensity. Other Cape gopher snakes' patterns begin as black stripes before evenly transforming into the familiar marks of the ''P. vertebralis'' species. When the snake is coiled up and alone, some people may mistake the differing colors and patterns for several snakes.

The typical total length of an adult Cape gopher snake ranges from 36 to 66 in (91.5–168 cm). Hatchlings are born at 12–18 in (30–48 cm) in total length. When threatened, the snake flattens its head while simultaneously vibrating its tail and hissing, closely imitating a [[rattlesnake]].

==Habitat== Most information gathered about the location of Cape gopher snakes is [[anecdotal]], but the area where they range is incredibly diverse. Dominating the landscape is a [[Sonoran Desert|Sonoran]]-like [[desert]] fraught with [[Cactus|cacti]], but includes [[dry tropical forests]], arid tropical scrubs, desert shores, and the [[Sierra de la Laguna]], an area designated by [[UNESCO]] as a global [[biosphere]] [[Nature reserve|reserve]] because the "semi[[arid]] to temperate subhumid [[climate]] area represents highly important and contrasted [[ecosystems]]." This area is known to go months, even years, without [[rainfall]], yet can be saturated with the [[flood]] waters of a [[tropical storm]] or [[hurricane]] in a span of just one week.

==Behavior== Young Cape gopher snakes are [[aggressive]] and very easily agitated. Their [[temperament]] varies with each individual snake, but a young one uncommonly strikes frequently at anything that moves. This aggressive behavior does not last long. Once they pass this phase, they are notably more docile and rarely (if ever) strike at anything (food is an exception). Still, Cape gopher snakes have a reputation for being nervous when handled. They remain still, but inevitably become active again and squirm before suddenly calming and starting the cycle over.

==Prey== The Cape gopher snake's [[prey]] is thought to include many small [[rodent]]s, [[bird]]s and [[egg (biology)|eggs]], though no certainty exists, due to a lack of research of these snakes in the wild. In captivity, small rodents and eggs suffice.

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.kingsnake.com/capegopher/ Description of the Cape gopher snake at kingsnake.com]

==Further reading== * {{cite book |author-link1=Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville |last1=Blainville |first1=H.-M. Ducrotay de |title=Description de quelques espèces de reptiles de la Californie: précédée de l'analyse d'un systéme général d'erpétologie et d'amphibiologie |date=1835 |publisher=Imprimerie et fonderie de Fain |oclc=365410359 |series=Nouvelles Annales du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle |volume=IV |language=French |pages=233–296}} {{Taxonbar|from=Q5035184}}

[[Category:Pituophis]] [[Category:Snakes of North America]] [[Category:Endemic reptiles of Mexico]] [[Category:Fauna of the Baja California Peninsula]] [[Category:Natural history of Baja California Sur]] [[Category:Reptiles described in 1835]] [[Category:Taxa named by Henri Marie Ducrotay de Blainville]]