CEDRO ISLAND GOPHER SNAKE or Topera de la Isla Cedros
Pituophis insulanus es una especie de serpiente de la familia Colubridae. Es endémica de la Isla Cedros y no habita en ningún otro lugar. Su hábitat natural son de matorrales áridos (arid shrub lands) y semiáridos y en matorrales con chaparrales.
By Guía de Serpientes de Baja California website NaturaLista Keivfields 016
CEDRO ISLAND GOPHER SNAKE
Cedro Island Gopher Snake-Pituophis insulanus
By Patrick Houston Briggs
The Cedro Island Gopher Snake Pituophis insulanus (formely P. melanoleucus insulanus) gets its scientific name from the Latin word insul meaning "island" and anus meaning "to belong to". Respectively it is indigenous only to an island known as the Isla De Cedro or (Cedros Island) south of the San Martin Island that also, is off the coast from Guerrero Negro of Baja California. In the latter 1990's, it was argueably elevated to full species status. Using an evolutionary species concept, Grismer elevated Pituophis insulanus of Isla de Cedros to full species, because it showed no overlap in diagnostic characteristics with Pituophis vertebralis. This diurnal snake has many more markings than vertebralis of Baja California. Called the Topera de isla Cedros in Baja California, Mexico, it grows to about a length of 116.2 cm. The dorsal ground color is yellowish-red with black blotches which seem to become more narrow toward the rear. The spots along each side are also black. It has large eyes with round pupils on a head which is just slightly wider than the neck. Its body is somewhat cilindrical and muscular with keeled scales on the uppermost rows. The Cedro Island gopher snake is active year round eating small mammals, birds, and probably lizards. It breeds in the spring.
CEDRO ISLAND GOPHER SNAKE
Image is by Chris Mattison See the Book: Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California Including its Pacific Islands and the Islands in the Sea of Cortez By Lee Grismer
Pituophis insulanus CEDROS ISLAND GOPHER SNAKE preserved specimen
Photo Image by Patrick Houston Briggs, Courtesy San Diego Society of Natural History
Pituophis insulanus CEDROS ISLAND GOPHER SNAKE preserved specimen
Photo Ventral Image by Patrick Houston Briggs, Courtesy San Diego Society of Natural History
Pituophis insulanus CEDROS ISLAND GOPHER SNAKE
!Naturalist.org Photographer Unknown
Pituophis insulanus CEDROS ISLAND GOPHER SNAKE or ISLA DE CEDROS
Image by Charlie de la Rosa !Naturalist.org
Pituophis insulanus CEDROS ISLAND GOPHER SNAKE
UNKNOWN PHOTOGRPHER Internet image possibly Chris Mattison
Below is from the book: Amphibians and Reptiles of Baja California Including Its Pacific Islands And The Islands In The Sea Of Cortes, L. Lee Grismer
Pituophis insulanus CEDROS ISLAND GOPHER SNAKE preserved specimen upper head.
Photo Image by Patrick Houston Briggs, Courtesy San Diego Society of Natural History
Pituophis insulanus ISLA DE CEDROS de la costa de Baja California Mexico
Imagen por Vince Scheidt de la internet
