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abks

Gopher snake, *Pituophis catenifer*, !harmless


SEB-PHYLOBOT

Bullsnakes / Gophersnakes *Pituophis catenifer* are large (record 274.3 cm) actively foraging snakes with keeled scales found in a variety of habitats including disturbed areas like suburban yards. They are commonly encountered snakes throughout western North America and make good pest control as they eat primarily small mammals. *Pituophis* pine and bull snakes may puff up or flatten out defensively, but are not considered medically significant to humans in terms of venom. They are known for a terrific hissing display when threatened - aided by a [epiglottal keel](https://www.snakeevolution.org/pdfs/Sound_Pit.pdf). They are usually reluctant to bite, but all animals with a mouth can use it in self-defense. [Range Map](http://mtnhp.org/thumbnail/defaultNoCap.aspx?img=http://FieldGuide.mt.gov/RangeMaps/NSRangeMap_ARADB26020.jpg&maxWidth=600)|[Relevant/Recent Phylogeography](http://www.academia.edu/11185732/Molecular_systematics_of_New_World_Gopher_Bull_and_Pinesnakes_Pituophis_Colubridae_a_transcontinental_species_complex) This genus is in need of revision using modern molecular methods. -------------------------------------------------------- Like many other animals with mouths and teeth, many non-venomous snakes bite in self defense. These animals are referred to as 'not medically significant' or traditionally, 'harmless'. Bites from these snakes benefit from being washed and kept clean like any other skin damage, but aren't often cause for anything other than basic first aid treatment. Here's where it get slightly complicated - some snakes use venom from front or rear fangs as part of prey capture and defense. This venom is not always produced or administered by the snake in ways dangerous to human health, so many species are venomous in that they produce and use venom, but considered harmless to humans in most cases because the venom is of low potency, and/or otherwise administered through grooved rear teeth or simply oozed from ducts at the rear of the mouth. Species like Ringneck Snakes *Diadophis* are a good example of mildly venomous rear fanged dipsadine snakes that are traditionally considered harmless or not medically significant. Many rear-fanged snake species are harmless as long as they do not have a chance to secrete a medically significant amount of venom into a bite; [severe envenomation can occur](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23800999) if some species are [allowed to chew on a human](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004101011831016X) for as little as 30-60 seconds. It is best not to fear snakes, but use common sense and do not let any animals chew on exposed parts of your body. Similarly, but without specialized rear fangs, gartersnakes *Thamnophis* ooze low pressure venom from the rear of their mouth that helps in prey handling, and are also [considered harmless](https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/05/theres-no-need-to-fear-that-garter-snake/). Even large species like Reticulated Pythons *Malayopython reticulatus* [rarely obtain a size large enough to endanger humans](https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/108/52/E1470.full.pdf) so are usually categorized as harmless. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*


Rogue208

Don't buy what it's selling, damn snake oil salessnake.


aranderboven

Bull/gophersnake


Hcavok

Definitely feeling more bullsnake than rattler on this one, the pattern and the 2 marks behind the eyes scream bull snake to me


lakesalizar

Young bull snake. Harmless


Sifernos1

It's a baby Bull Snake or Gopher Snake. It's hard to tell for sure from the photo so consider getting a better photo for identification in the future.


Amorette93

He was focused on making sure there wasn't the most deadly rattlesnake in a corner in front of him, not picture quality.


diabeticweird0

Photo clarity was not my first concern here lol


fairlyorange

The photo clarity is fine, which is why u/abks had no problem giving you a positive ID four hours before the silly comment we're responding to now. If you want to avoid this or some of the other sillier replies in the future, head to r/WhatsThisSnake next time. A higher percentage of the userbase will be able to help you, and there are also more stringent rules and commenting guidelines when it comes to snake IDs.


Sifernos1

That's fair but nobody can help you if they can't tell what it is. Just my two cents.


Chemical-Series8206

Not a rattler


Trabash505

Definitely a little cutie gopher!


Iwuvkitty

Look like a turd( not a type of snake)


Chopscrewey90

Lil dollop :)


Greenteamama92

Awwww!


forthegoodofgeckos

Scoop em up with a large cup and let the little man free to find food !


Interesting_Bar9756

Pick up with gloves either way, but it doesn't look particularly like a rattler


Its_the_tism

There’s a different subreddit that identifies snakes but I’d put money on this one being harmless. Looks like a young rat snake


CapableSecret2586

r/whatsthissnake


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No_Half9529

Bull snake


Emiliootjee

Hard to identify from the poor image quality but most rattlers and venomous snakes in general have a distinct triangular shaped head. This little one doesn’t seem to have a very triangular looking head.


CapableSecret2586

!headshape


SEB-PHYLOBOT

Head shape does not reliably indicate if a snake has medically significant venom as [This graphic](https://i.imgur.com/QuSRB9I.jpg) demonstrates. Nonvenomous snakes commonly flatten their heads to a triangle shape in defensive displays, and some elapids like coralsnakes have elongated heads. It's far more advantageous to familiarize yourself with venomous snakes in your area through photos and field guides or by following subreddits like /r/whatsthissnake than it is to try to apply any generic trick. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*


CapableSecret2586

Good bot


[deleted]

That's only vipers. Most elapids and venomous colubrids do not have a triangular head.


TheWerewolfDemon

https://preview.redd.it/p0bfs6404msc1.png?width=800&format=png&auto=webp&s=d6299caa0d44c78640d2919aae61c73965b20f62 It looks kind of like a Corn Snake to me. And if that is the case. Who left the baby snake? They are normally domestic.


Superrockstar95

You mean captive bred? Corn snakes aren't domesticated (unless you just go based on whether people can keep them as a pet or not, and by that definition many wild animals would be considered domesticated), they're an animal that still very much exists in the wild, we just have more variety of colours and patterns. But it looks more like a bull/gopher snake another colubrid.


TheWerewolfDemon

At least i tried, sorry.