Pacific gopher snake
Videos
Pituophis catenifer catenifer is a subspecies of large non-venomous colubrid snake native to the western coast of North America. Pacific gopher snakes are one of California's most common snake species
Pituophis catenifer catenifer
The size of this juvenile Pacific gopher snake is shown by comparison with the hands holding it
Rattlesnake
Videos
Rattlesnakes are venomous snakes that form the genera Crotalus and Sistrurus of the subfamily Crotalinae. Rattlesnakes are predators that live in a wide array of habitats, hunting small animals such a
Pacific gopher snake
…snake native to the western coast of North America. Pacific gopher snakes are one of California's most common snake species. They often get confused for rattlesnakes because they mimic similar patterns and defense mechanisms. As a result, gopher snakes can often avoid confrontation without needing to rely on their…
Crotalus cerastes mesquite springs CA 2
Western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox), responsible for the majority of venomous snakebites in North America, coiled in defensive posture with rattle erect
Heat-sensing pits located in blue circle on a rattlesnake specimen: Location of the pit is the same in all Viperidae.
1. Trigeminal nerve extending into the heat-sensing pit 2. Trigeminal nerve originating in the brain 3. Heat-sensing pit