Judy, I think you may have jumped the gun taxinomically speaking. Pituophis is a genus, not a family. Colubridae is the family, and encompasses 1800+ extremely diverse species, and about 300 genera. Beautiful snake though!! I love my little hypo bull, he is all bark and no bite. He hisses if I look at him funny, but never strikes, I love the attitude!!

-Evan