Santa Cruz Island Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer pumilis
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- P. c. pumillis – Santa Barbara Co, CA – photo by Patrick Briggs
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- P. c. pumillis – Santa Barbara Co, CA – photo by Patrick Briggs
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- P. c. pumillis – Santa Barbara Co, CA – photo by Patrick Briggs
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Pituophis c. pumilis occurs only on Santa Cruz Island and Santa Rosa Island south of the Santa Barbara Coast in California. There exists a sight record from San Miguel Island, but it is unverified.
LEGAL STATUS: Pituophis c. pumilis is protected by the state of California as a Species of Special Concern.
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Pituophis catenifer pumilis (Klauber– 1942)
Genus: Pituophis, Greek – pitys = pine + ophis = snake, serpent
Species: catenifer, Latin – catena = chain + ifera = bearing
Subspecies: pumilis, Latin – pumilus = diminutive, dwarfish, pygmy
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jaeger 1962