Louisiana pine snake
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Physical features
The Louisiana pine snake is a large, heavy snake that is typically about 4-6 feet in length.
The Louisiana pine snake is non-venomous. It is a constrictor and uses its strong muscles to subdue prey.
Its coloration consists of a yellow background with dark blotches. The blotches become reddish and more distinctive toward the tail. The underside is yellowish with small dark markings.
They have a spade-shaped snout that allows them to scoop sand and produce a burrow.
Range and Habitat
Range – West-central Louisiana and eastern Texas
Habitat – Long leaf pine forests with sandy, well-drained soil
Diet: Carnivore
Wild – Small mammals, birds, eggs, and lizards, rabbits. Its primary food source is Baird’s pocket gopher.
Zoo – Quail eggs, mice and rats, day old chicks
Lifespan
15-20 years
Reproduction
Louisiana pine snakes mate in March and lay eggs during April and May. Eggs are laid approximately 21 days after mating.
Louisiana pine snakes lay the fewest amount of eggs of any North American snake (3-5 per clutch), and these eggs are larger than any other snake in the U.S. (about 5 inches long and 2 inches wide).
Females lay their eggs in underground chambers. They hatch after about 60 days.
Hatchlings are very large compared to other snakes. Upon hatching, they are already about 17-22 inches long.
Conservation: Endangered
Major Threats: The Louisiana pine snake has an historically limited range already that has recently been threatened by the loss of their longleaf pine habitat. These areas are being logged and used for urbanization and agriculture. Much of their ecosystem has been destroyed and only around 3% of their original range still exists.
Lesser Threats: Longleaf pine habitats need frequent low-intensity ground fires in order to maintain their ecosystem. With fire suppression measures in place fires are not allowed to burn large areas of forest which allows vegetation to build up and makes the habitat unsuitable for Louisiana pine snakes. Other threats include vehicle mortality, pet trade, and direct killing by humans.
Conservation Efforts: Zoos and state agencies breed Louisiana pine snakes in captivity and reintroduce them into areas of restored habitat.
Interpretive Information
The Louisiana pine snake hunts for Baird’s pocket gophers by entering their underground burrows and pinning the gopher to the side of the burrow to subdue it.
Louisiana pine snakes spend up to 60% of their time underground, usually in gopher burrows. They only make short-range movements above ground, usually to move from one gopher burrow to another.
They hibernate in burrows during the winter. They do not excavate these burrows themselves, instead they enlarge pre-existing burrows.
When approached, the Louisiana pine snake hisses loudly and vibrates its tail. They have one of the loudest hisses of all snakes. Cartilage at the opening to the glottis acts like a reed to produce loud vibrations.
References
Louisiana pine snake (Pituophis ruthveni). (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2014, from http://www.arkive.org/louisiana-pine-snake/pituophis-ruthveni/
Pituophis ruthveni. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2014, from http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/63874/0
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service- Louisiana Pine Snake. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2014, from http://www.fws.gov/southwest/clearlakees/PDF/PINESNAKE.pdf
Updated December 2014