Kenneth L. Krysko photo.

Scientific name: Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi

Description: Adults average from 48-64 inches (122-163 cm). The record is 89 inches (226 cm). A large stocky snake. Back and belly are uniform (or nearly so) black or dark brown. Faint blotches may be seen on the hindbody or tail. In Florida, this subspecies interbreeds with the Florida pine snake (Pituophis melanoleucus mutigus) to produce individuals with very dark brown or black backs and dark gray to whitish bellies with scattered black spots. There are 29 dorsal scale rows at midbody and the scales are keeled. The pupils are round. The snout is somewhat pointed and covered by a large triangular, almost cone-shaped, scale. There are four large scales on top of the snout, rather than two as in most other snakes. Juveniles are dark toward the head, patterned toward the tail, and have pink to tan bellies.

Black pine snake: Left to right: Top of the head; underside of the head (chin and throat).

Black pine snake: Left to right: Side of the head; front (face view) of the head.

Range: The black pine snake occurs in Florida only as an intergrade with the Florida pine snake. The intergrades are found in the panhandle west of the Escambia River. Pure black pine snakes range from southwestern Alabama to extreme eastern Louisiana.

Habitat: This subspecies requires dry sandy soils for burrowing. It is found in pine and mixed hardwood forests.

Comments: . When disturbed, the Black pine snake will inflate and rear its forebody off the ground while hissing very loudly.

The Black pine snake feeds primarily on pocket gophers, which it pursues by forcing its way into their underground burrows. Prey also include other small mammals, birds and their eggs, and reptile eggs. However, it is this species dependence on pocket gophers that likely limits it to sandy soiled habitats. Breeding occurs in spring and 4-8 large, whitish eggs are laid in pocket gopher burrows during mid to late summer. The 18-20 inch (46-51 cm) young hatch in September-October.

Comparison with other species: The black racers (Coluber constrictor) have smooth scales, divided anal plates, only two large scales on the top of the snout, and lack the enlarged cone-shaped scale on the tip of the snout. The eastern coachwhip (Masticophis flagellum flagellum) has a dark head and neck grading into a tan body and tail, has smooth scales and lacks the enlarged scale on the snout. The eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon corais couperi) has smooth scales, only two large scales on top of its snout, and lacks the enlarged cone-shaped scale on the tip of its snout.

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