Slytherin Part IV

There is not a lot of agreement in the literature about Gopher Snakes and the number of subspecies. There is not even agreement on the spelling of Gophersnake or Gopher Snake; Bullsnake or Bull Snake. I think part of the difficulty is 1) colors and patterns change with size/age and, 2) these snakes seem to have the ability to change colors to improve their camouflage with the surrounding terrain. Both the Bull Snake and the Sonoran Gopher snake are listed as subspecies of the Gopher Snake. Both inhabit arid, desert ecosystems such as our Sonoran Desert. The Sonoran Gopher Snake is fairly aggressive but can be domesticated, and become very gentle. They have hard tough skin on their noses used to burrow into gopher holes and the burrows of other rodents. During the winter they hibernate. They invade gopher holes (hence the name) and holes of other burrowing rodents and eat what they need to stay alive in the invaded burrow. The Bull Snake seems to have a little more girth per length, but that's just my observation.  Here are a few photos of the Sonoran Gopher Snake

Here at The Azure Gate

On the Eastern Side of the Rincon Mountains

In Saguaro National Park

Also here at The Azure Gate