Taxonomy:  Of the three subspecies listed by Crother et al. (2008), only the Northern Pinesnake (P. m. melanoleucus) occurs in Tennessee (Conant 1998). 

Distribution:  In Tennessee, Pinesnakes may range statewide.  However, they have yet to be found in the following areas: most of West Tennessee, the Central Basin of Middle Tennessee, and the northern parts of East Tennessee. 

Museum Records by Counties: Benton—UTKVZC 4458.  Blount—GSMNP 4068.  Coffee—APSU 5280, 5281; MTSU 46S.  Cumberland—AMNH R-82130-82134; TTU 177; UTKVZC 6971.  Decatur—APSU 19071.  Dickson—APSU 4364, 4365.  Franklin—MCZ 60857.  Grundy—NCSM 23745; UMMZ 84457.  Hardin—APSU 17656, 17657.  Henderson—MSUMZ uncataloged.  Henry—MSU 912; UTM 623.  Hickman—APSU 2259.  Houston—APSU 17716.  Humphreys—KU 109969.  Knox—USNM 10363, 226635.  Lawrence—CMNH 19901.  Marion—AMNH R-82135.  Monroe—NCSM 8746, 8748.  Morgan—FMNH 73940.  Perry—AUM 24073.  Polk—FLMNH 10803, 117516; NCSM 8754; UTKVZC 7031.  Putnam—TTU uncataloged. Rhea—FLMNH 10802.  Stewart—APSU 171, 554, 556, 721, 855, 1659, 4930, 4932, 5541; KU 155016; MSU 1263.  Sumner—USNM 1575. 

Literature Sources by Counties: Benton— Endsley (1954).  Blount—Dunn (1917), Huheey and Stupka (1967), Wood (1947).  Coffee—Miller et al. (2005), Gerald et al. (2006), Miller (1995b), Miller et al. (1998). Decatur—Colvin (2011e).  Franklin— Gerald et al. (2006), Miller (1995a, 1995b), Miller et al. (1998), Cameron and McCrady (1978). Henderson—Sinclair (1950). Knox—Blanchard (1920), Stull (1932, 1940).  Montgomery—Scott (1967), Scott and Snyder (1968).  Polk—Ash (1945).  Roane—Krumholz (1954).  Sevier—Huheey and Stupka (1967). Shelby—Bailey (1990), Jacob and Smith (1980).  Stewart—Jacob (1981), Scott (1990). 

Questionable and/or Erroneous Records: Based on two specimens in the United States National Museum (Nos. 10363 and 226635), Blanchard (1920) and Stull (1932 and 1940) reported the species from “Murphy (near Knoxville), Tenn.”  The collection site for both specimens is listed as “Murphy, Tennessee” in the United States National Museum Catalog. To our knowledge, there is currently no community called Murphy near Knoxville.  Therefore, given the uncertainty of the locality, we plotted this record with a question mark in the vicinity of Murphy Cemetery and Murphy Creek just northeast of Knoxville. 

Protection Status: Tennessee populations of Pituophis melanoleucus are considered Threatened by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission (Proclamation 00-14, Wildlife in Need of Management) and are given a state ranking of S3 (rare and uncommon in the state, from 21-100 occurrences) by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Natural Heritage (Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation 2004).

Posted: 14 July 2008

Latest Revision: 30 August 2011

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