Pine Snake Pituophis melanoleucus

Pine Snakes are large, powerfully constricting snakes. They are fossorial in nature, that is, spending much time beneath ground. They feed principally upon rodents. They are active during daytime hours, except in hot weather when they may roam the surface at night. Pine Snakes are one of only a few snakes which can actually construct their own burrow. They have relatively small, pointed heads which aid in burrowing in sand and forest cover material. Eggs are laid in burrows.

In South Carolina there are two subspecies of Pine Snakes: Northern (Pituophis m. melanoleucus) and Florida (Pituophis m. mugitus). The Northern Pine Snake has dark, almost black, blotches on a very light, almost white, background. The Florida Pine Snake has a tan on creme coloring, with blotches being less distinct. The Florida subspecies is found only in the southern most areas of South Carolina. There is intergrading of the subspecies in adjacent range areas.