Cape Gopher Snake

Cape Gopher Snake

Pituophis vertebralis

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered Endemic
10–20% · With luck
overall probability at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve
11 Verified records at El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

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 →

10–20% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Gopher Snake sighting in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, based on 11 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

📅 Monthly Probability

<5
Jan
10–20
Feb
10–20
Mar
20–30
Apr
<5
May
<5
Jun
20–30
Jul
<5
Aug
<5
Sep
<5
Oct
40–50
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

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
10–20%
2 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Cape Gopher Snake in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve?

About 16% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Gopher Snake sighting in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, based on 11 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Cape Gopher Snake in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve?

November has the highest sighting rate for Cape Gopher Snake in El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve in our monthly data.

← Back to El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve