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© Sedgwick County Zoo, credit: Brent Ward

Louisiana Pine Snake

Pituophis melanoleucus ruthveni

*This animal is not on exhibit.

Physical Characteristics

  • Background color is buff to yellowish with dark brown markings near head and brown to russet markings near tail. The belly is marked with black. They are related to Kansas bullsnakes and closely resemble them.
  • Size of average adult
    • length: 48 - 56 inches

Diet

  • Wild: Baird's pocket gophers, occaisonally eastern moles and mice

Behavior

  • Diurnal
  • Similar to bullsnakes found in Kansas, closely related
  • Reproduction
    • breeding season: spring
    • clutch average: 4
    • eggs hatch in the fall
    • hatchlings are the largest of any snake in North America

Environmental/Global

  • Habitat: sandy, longleaf pine woods
  • Distribution: west central Louisiana and east Texas
  • Numbers: 75 wild specimens
    • habitat destruction

Conservation Efforts

  • Establishment of a studbook
  • Covered by a TAG (Taxon Advisory Group)

 
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