Of all the Pituophis species and subspecies, the Durango Mountain Pine Snake has to be near the top of the list in terms of polymorphism. These fantastic pine snakes show remarkable variation in both color and pattern. This is an unusual trait for most naturally occuring Pituophis. Like certain species of kingsnakes, especially mexicana and alterna, this high degree of variation occurs even within single clutches. Background coloration on these snakes ranges from bright, enamel white to intense yellows and oranges. Saddle color is variable as well — blue black to light cinnamon saddles occurring even on the same snake. Bi-colored snakes are common. The Durango Mountain Pine Snake occupies a high elevation range in the Sierra Madre Occidental of northwestern Mexico with the highest peak in the range being Cerro Gordo at 10,958 ft. This is a large mountain range with many rugged, remote areas and the range of this pine snake has not been well defined. Our founder stock originated from the mountain area near Los Mimbres, Durango. As with most montane reptiles, this pine snake appreciates a cooler environment and in captivity thrives at room temperatures normally comfortable for humans. The Durango Mountain Pine Snake, Pituophis deppei deppei, is often erroneously confused with the Mexican Pine Snake, Pituophis deppei jani, which occupies the Sierra Madre Oriental of northeastern Mexico. The ranges of these two subspecies is separated by the huge expanse of the Mexican Central Plateau.

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