Pituophis melanoleucus, commonly known as the pine snake or bull snake, is a species of non-venomous snake belonging to the Pituophis genus. Although "pine snake" and "bull snake" are the most common names for this species, there are a number of other synonyms used to describe P. melanoleucus. Some of these alternative names include: eastern pine snake, northern pine snake, southern pine snake, yellow pine snake, gopher snake, and chicken snake. The specific epithet, melanoleucus, is derived from Greek, meaning "black-and-white," which refers to the distinctive color pattern of this species. Overall, P. melanoleucus is an important species for pest control and ecosystem balance in its range.