Cape Gopher Snake
Pituophis vertebralis
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyColubridae (Colúbrids)
- GenusPituophis (Pine, Gopher, and Bullsnakes)
- SpeciesPituophis vertebralis (Cape Gopher Snake)
The Cape gopher snake or Baja gopher snake (Pituophis vertebralis) is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to extreme southern Baja California Sur, Mexico. They have become increasingly popular companions for people interested in the exotic pet trade, due to their extreme color variations and relatively docile behavior. It was previously considered to be a subspecies of Pituophis catenifer. There has been controversy whether the Baja Gopher Snake is a lower classification of the Cape Gopher Snake. Some say the Baja Gopher Snake should be in a separate sub-species of Pituophis Vertebralis Bimaris, while Cape Gopher Snakes should remain Pituophis Vertebralis Vertebralis. Many people mistake the two as the same sub species and have cased some cross-breeding between the two. Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Bahía de Loreto National Park
Baja California Coachwhip
Masticophis fuliginosus
Coast Night Snake
Hypsiglena ochrorhynchus
Banded Sand Snake
Sonora cincta
Baja California Lyre Snake
Trimorphodon lyrophanes
Banded Sand Snake
Sonora fasciata
Baja California Night Snake
Hypsiglena slevini
Western Patch-nosed Snake
Salvadora hexalepis
Baja California Ratsnake
Bogertophis rosaliae
Western Black-headed Snake
Tantilla planiceps
📅 Monthly Probability
Fewer than 5 records of Cape Gopher Snake at Bahía de Loreto National Park — not enough to chart months honestly.
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve | 🇲🇽 Mexico | |
| 2 | Bahía de Loreto National Park | 🇲🇽 Mexico |