What kind of Pine is this?

[MouseKilla]

I've had this guy for quite a while now but I still can't figure out what he is apart from being a Pine of some kind. I got him from a pet store and got a great deal because the owner of the store thought he was "mean" and didn't think anyone would want him.



It's a bit of a dark, crappy pic but this guy is very active and to catch him being still is the best I can hope for.

Turns out he's not "mean" at all but he'll tail-rattle when you touch him at first and I've had him hiss the world's loudest hiss when annoyed. He's about 5 feet long now and at feeding time he hits so hard he nearly puts the rat through the side of the enclosure.

If anyone could tell me what specific type of Pine he is it will help me out when I search for a female to pair him up with for next year.

Thanks.

[Katt]

Looks like a real pretty northern pine to me.

[ChokeOnSmoke]

I would say Florida Pine but thats strictly a guess
sweet snake whatever it is

[gonesnakee]

I was going to guess Northern too, not that I'd really know. I'd take Katt's word for it though. I used to have a Southern? patternless & he would hiss up a storm! I didn't think snakes could hiss that loud LOL He was like 2 feet, but he sounded like he should be 20 LOL All show though, would shake his tail like crazy, but it was as simple as reaching in & picking him up. Very intimidating though if you don't realize that they are all show 9 times outta 10. Watch for that 10th time though Heh Heh Good luck with it. Mark

[MouseKilla]

Going by the pics I've seen (very few) and the Pines I've seen in person (even fewer) Northern was my best guess too, though the others I've seen all had black on them. This guy doesn't have any black at all, not that it necessarily makes a difference.

[AHLizards]

It's a northern pine.. nice pattern on it.

[Scotty Allen]

That's a textbook Florida Pinesnake, Pituophis melanoleucus mugitus.

[Jayson]

According to both of my field guides it a florida pine, but i personally am not an expert.

[MouseKilla]

Well it can't be Northern and from Florida at the same time can it? LOL!

Melanoleucus mugitus or melanoleucus melanoleucus?

If this guy is textbook anything I'd sure like to see the textbook!lol! I'll have to know for sure before I breed him, I just can't seem to track down any good resourses for pics.

[Scotty Allen]

"I've had this guy for quite a while now ..........." What did you buy it as? First field guide that comes to mind is the Peterson Field Guide Series -- Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. There's also the Audubon Series of Field Guides, both have excellent illustrations of your pinesnake. Try this link from the University of Florida:

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herp...ismmugitus.htm

[DataRipper]

Florida pine..

[MouseKilla]

That was a great link, thanks! I think you're right too, the snake in the picture there is by far the closest I've ever seen.

[C.m.pyrrhus]

I am saying it is a Florida Pine...by far. Looks like all the Florida Pines I have seen, and not like many Northerns.

[Jeff_Favelle]

Holy moly, I'm not a Pine fan, but that is a COOOOOL snake!!

[MouseKilla]

Sounds like we're coming to a concensus now, which is a good thing for me.

As I said about buying him though, I got him from a pet store and the owner didn't want to go near him. He didn't even have this snake on display at the time but I had spent enough time and money at this store to be able to hang out in the back room and look at everything that they had. I'm not sure whether it was the guy at the store that suggested that he was a Northern Pine or whether I came up with that on my own based on the very few pictures and discription I could find. All the store knew was that he was a pine, they didn't know the age or sex or much of anything useful.

Thanks to everyone for all the help. Now does anyone know where I can get a female? lol! Sounds like they're protected in Florida.