Eastern Pine Snake

(Pituophis melanoleucus)

"Northern Pine Snake"

Color Photograph: New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife

"Black Pine Snake"

Color Photograph: National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration

Four prefrontal scales (red) and rostral scale (blue) projecting between the internasals (yellow)

Eastern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus)

Identification: Snake 40 to 100 inches in length. A very large snake with a small head, head expanding toward its junction with the neck. Body color light, white to gray. Back with quadrate brown, black, or red-brown blotches, and light scales spotted or streaked with black. Sides irregularly marked with dark blotches. Tail with dark and light rings. One population (Black Pine snake) all black on the dorsum and sides. Rostral scale elongate, extending upward between the internasal scales. Head with 4 prefrontal scales (see diagram below on left). Scales keeled and anal plate single.

Geographical Variation:

Northern Pine Snake (P. m. melanoleucus): As described above. Range: New Jersey in the north southward to southwestern Kentucky, eastern West Virginia and western Virginia, southern North Carolina, most of South Carolina, central Alabama, and northern Georgia.

Florida Pine Snake (P. m. mugitus): Gray toward the front and becoming browner near the tail; body blotches indistinct and streaked toward the head. Range: Southern South Carolina, southeastern Georgia, most of Florida, and southeastern Alabama.

Black Pine Snake (P. m. lodingi): Almost completely black to dark brown, although sometimes with a hint of lighter blotches. Range: Southwestern Alabama and westward to eastern Louisiana.

Range (see map on left): The Eastern Pine Snake has a spotty distribution in the eastern United States from New Jersey in the north to Florida in the south, westward to extreme eastern Louisiana and western Kentucky.

Habitat: This species is almost limited to pine woodlands.

Food: Small mammals.

Behavior: This species is usually diurnal. The snake rests in gopher holes or tortoise burrows. If threatened the Eastern Pine Snake hisses loudly, flattens its head, vibrates its tail, and strikes at the intruder.

Reproduction:  The adults mate in the spring. Clutches consist of 3 to 24 eggs hatching between June and August. The eggs are commonly laid in gopher and tortoise burrows, or under rocks or logs.

Eastern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus)

Similar Species:

The single anal plate and keeled dorsal scales, the projecting rostral scale, the 4 prefontal scales, and its large size should easily identify most individuals.

Louisiana Pine Snake (Pituophis ruthveni)