Distribution     Distribution map

 In the north the distribution of this group begins in New Jersey and goes with some exeptions down to southern Florida. The Distibution in the West reaches with the subspecies melanoleucus Kentucky and Tennessee, south of this the species ruthveni reaches Texas.

In direction west there occure in some distance the bull snake Pituophis c. sayi. Because of this distance between the groups no natural intergrades are found til now.

Description

 These snakes are powerful animals, wich can reach sometimes aprox. 2,5m. Three species/subspecies mostly are colored with saddle markings, the ssp. lodingi is uniformly black. In headscalation there are 4 subobricularia. The snout scale is higher than broad and is good to use for dig in underground and for the hunt of rodents (mostly pocket gophers) in their tunnels.

Habitat

 The pine snakes live in multible areas from the coast to the lower hills up to 700m, from the beaches to the forrests. Moist areas are mostly avoided.

Way of life

 A great part of their time they spend in rodent tunnels

The snakes can climb well, but most of them climb trees only for the search of food.

Diet

 The pine snakes eat great amounts of rodents and so they help the farmers, too. Many pine snakes are specialized to gopher rats, but birds and their eggs are eaten, too.

Hibernation

 The durination of hibernation varies depending of ist distributon. Partly it hibernates up to 4 month, but in lower altitude and warmer winters they reduce it to 1-2 month.

Reproduction

Like described in the section -Pituophis- .

In August/September the young snakes hatch with a lenght of 35 to 50 cm.

The coloration mostly resembles their parents.