Louisiana Pine Snake

Pituophis ruthveni

Color Photograph: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Louisiana Pine Snake (Pituophis ruthveni)

Identification: Snake 48 to 60 inches in length. A very large snake with a small head, head expanding toward its junction with the neck. Body color yellow, cream-white, or light tan. Back with quadrate brown, black, or red-brown blotches, and light scales spotted or streaked with black. Blotches on the anterior half of the body obscured by massive black streaking. Sides irregularly marked with dark blotches. Tail with dark and light rings. Head with a dark line from the eye to the base of the jaw. 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: None.

Range (see map below): The Louisiana Pine Snake has a very restricted distribution in central and western Louisiana and western Texas.

Habitat: This species is found in Long-leaf Pine forests on sandy soil.

Food:  Small mammals.

Behavior: The behavior of this snake is not well known, but is presumably similar to that of the Eastern Pine Snake.

Reproduction: Poorly known.

Louisiana Pine Snake (Pituophis ruthveni)

Similar Species:

Eastern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus)