Gopher Snake ID Please

[bkelm18]

I have the opportunity to purchase this Gopher Snake and was wondering which type/morph it is. The guy says he thinks it's Sonoran but he isn't sure. Any help is appreciated.

 

[epa650]

Its eathier a sonoran or a pacific. I dont know if that helps.

 

[bkelm18]

Just comparing photos I'm leaning towards Pacific but I don't know for sure.

 

[epa650]

yea its kind of hard to tell them apart.

 

[wilomn]

Need a better picture of the entire back.

Pacifics pictured.

 

[tyflier]

Closeups on the eyes should help with ID, as well. There is usually subtle differences in the color of the iris from one subspecies to another. I'm not positive of the diferences between a Sonoran and a Pacific, but I can look it up...

 

[bkelm18]

I should be able to get better photos when I pick him/her up on Sunday.

 

[bkelm18]

Ok...wow... just got him. He's significantly bigger than the guy said he was. He told me he was 2 1/2 ft, I haven't measured but I'd say he's closer to 4 and he weighs 218g. Needless to say the tank I had set aside for it is woefully inadequate, haha. He will be upgraded to roomier digs in short order. Here are a few quick shots. Didn't want to disturb him too much.

 

[Outcast]

he looks like the sanoran that a lady has out here.

 

[snakemom1961]

Don't have a clue about the locality, but it sure is a pretty snake.

 

[TandJ]

Beats me, but he has a different look from my guys out in my parts of Cali.. All be it, I have Great Basins out here..

 

[DaGiant]

It looks like the Pacifics around here...
It doesnt even look similar to my Sonoran.

 

[bkelm18]

Haha ok, so we've got a "looks like a sonoran I've seen" and we've got "looks like a pacific I've seen". Maybe it's a mix?

 

[tricksterpup]

hmmm.. that dark look reminds me of a dark phase Bullsnake.
Most gophers I know tend to have more yellow in them. All the gophers i got from Gene are yellow and have orange in them.
As well as my adult gophers here.

Here was my Sonoran who passed on last year.

Coyote a pacific Gopher

 

[wilomn]

It doesn't really look like pure anything to me. More sonoran than pacific but I may well be wrong.

Try the guys here, www.feildherpforum.com. Put a picture up there and they can probably tell you right away.

 

[tricksterpup]

you know, i take that back, not a bull. possibly a Great Basin.

 

[DaGiant]

I would say definitley not a Sonoran...
Could be a Great Basin, but not a Cali locality.

 

[tyflier]

I would say definitley not a Sonoran...
Could be a Great Basin, but not a Cali locality.

I think it's a Bullsnake, to be honest. It just doesn't look like any gophersnake I've seen. The patterning isn't quite right for a Great Basin, and it's overall too dark for any subspecies I've dealt with.

 

[Nanci]

Maybe ask KJUN, he raises bullsnakes.

 

[bkelm18]

Thanks for all the help. Guess he/she will just remain my mystery pituophis for now until we can figure it out.