Bull Snake
Scientific classification
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

The Bull Snake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) is a large species of non-venomous colubrid snake found predominantly in the central United States. The epithet sayi is in honor of the renowned zoologist Thomas Say. For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Typical Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Reptilia redirects here. ... Suborders Lacertilia- Lizards Serpentes - Snakes Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards This article is about the Squamata order of reptiles. ... Families Acrochordidae Aniliidae Anomalepididae Anomochilidae Atractaspididae Boidae Bolyeriidae Colubridae Cylindrophiidae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Leptotyphlopidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Typhlopidae Uropeltidae Viperidae Xenopeltidae Snakes are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. ... Genera According to ITIS: Adelophis Adelphicos Alsophis Amastridium Arizona Arrhyton Atractus Bogertophis Boiga Carphophis Cemophora Cerberus Chersodromus Chilomeniscus Chionactis Clelia Clonophis Coluber Coniophanes Conophis Conopsis Contia Cryophis Dendrelaphis Dendrophidion Diadophis Dipsas Dryadophis Drymarchon Drymobius Elaphe Enulius Eridiphas Erythrolamprus Farancia Ficimia Geagras Geophis Gyalopion Heterodon Hypsiglena Imantodes Lampropeltis Leptodeira Leptophis Liochlorophis... Species See text. ... Binomial name Pituophis catenifer (Blainville, 1835) Gopher snakes are found in a wide variety of habitats including desert flats, coastal dunes and coniferous forests, but preferring grasslands and open brush areas. ... Trinomial nomenclature is a taxonomic naming system that extends the standard system of binomial nomenclature by adding a third taxon. ... Hermann Schlegel. ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... It has been suggested that Snake poison be merged into this article or section. ... Subfamilies Boodontinae Calamariinae Colubrinae Dipsadinae Homalopsinae Natricinae Pareatinae Psammophiinae Pseudoxenodontinae Pseudoxyrhophiinae Xenodermatinae Xenodontinae See text for genera. ... For other uses, see Snake (disambiguation). ... Zoology (from Greek: ζῴον, zoion, animal; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the biological discipline which involves the study of animals. ... Thomas Say. ...

Range

Bull snakes have one of the most expansive ranges of the Pituophis species. It can be found throughout much of the central United States, in the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska. Species See text. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... Capital Santa Fe Largest city Albuquerque Largest metro area Albuquerque metropolitan area Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq mi (315,194 km²)  - Width 342 miles (550 km)  - Length 370 miles (595 km)  - % water 0. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... For other uses, see Oklahoma (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Idaho (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... For the capital city of the United States, see Washington, D.C.. For other uses, see Washington (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Largest metro area Denver-Aurora Metro Area Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English Capital Bismarck Largest city Fargo Area  Ranked 19th in the US  - Total 70,762 sq mi (183,272 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Pierre Largest city Sioux Falls Area  Ranked 17th  - Total 77,116[1] sq mi (199,905 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 380 miles (610 km)  - % water 1. ... For other uses, see Nebraska (disambiguation). ...

Description

Bull snake in California.

Bull snakes are large snakes and specimens often exceed 6 feet in length, though specimens of up to 100 inches have been recorded. 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. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 600 × 450 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 450 pixel, file size: 118 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photographer: LA Dawson Animals courtesy of Austin Reptile Service. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 600 × 450 pixelsFull resolution (600 × 450 pixel, file size: 118 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photographer: LA Dawson Animals courtesy of Austin Reptile Service. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... A yellow Tulip. ... For other uses, see Brown (disambiguation). ... This article is about the color. ... For other uses, see Red (disambiguation). ... Albinism is a genetic condition resulting in a lack of pigmentation in the eyes, skin and hair. ...

Diet

Bull snakes eat small mammals, such as rabbits, gophers, rodents, as well as ground nesting birds and the young of other snakes. It is commonly believed that bull snakes will kill rattlesnakes; this possible misconception is often touted as a reason for humans not to harm bull snakes when encountering them in the wild. While this may not be true, these snakes are still important in eliminating vermin such as rodents. Large bull snakes have been observed eating juvenile rattle snakes. Many snakes have evolved a natural immunity to venom, just as rattlesnakes themselves are immune to their own. For other uses, see Bird (disambiguation). ... Families Acrochordidae Aniliidae Anomalepididae Anomochilidae Atractaspididae Boidae Bolyeriidae Colubridae Cylindrophiidae Elapidae Hydrophiidae Leptotyphlopidae Loxocemidae Pythonidae Tropidophiidae Typhlopidae Uropeltidae Viperidae Xenopeltidae Snakes are cold blooded legless reptiles closely related to lizards, which share the order Squamata. ... Species 27 species; see list of rattlesnake species and subspecies. ...

Behavior

Bull snakes often will imitate the behavior of the rattlesnake as a defense mechanism. They will coil, hiss (resembling a rattle) and strike at an opponent. Since their coloration resembles that of the rattler, this can be convincing to someone not familiar with the difference.

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. This article is about animals kept for companionship. ... Captive breeding is the process of breeding endangered animals by capturing them from their natural environment, breeding them in restricted conditions in zoos and other conservation facilities, and releasing them back to the wild when the population stabilizes and the threat to the animal in the wild is lessened or...

Gallery

Juvenile

Bull snake, Phoenix, Arizona

References

• Keeping and Breeding of Bull Snake

External links

• Iowa Herpetology: Bull SnakeSpecies account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide
• Bull snakes in captivity