California Kingsnake
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| California Kingsnake | |
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| Young California Kingsnake | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Lampropeltis |
| Species: | L. getula |
| Subspecies: | L. g. californiae |
| Trinomial name | |
| Lampropeltis getula californiae Blainville, 1835cvcvx[1] |
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The California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae) is a non-venomous colubrid snake found in the western United States and northern Mexico. It is a relatively small subspecies of the Common Kingsnake[1] and is naturally found in a wide variety of habitats. One of the most popular snakes in captivity, the California Kingsnake can vary widely in appearance due to numerous naturally occurring and captive-developed color morphs.[1]
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[edit] Geographic range
The California Kingsnake is found in most of California and Arizona, excluding the highest mountain ranges, as well as southern portions of Nevada, Utah, and Oregon, northwestern New Mexico, extreme southwestern Colorado, and northwestern Mexico. In Arizona, they intergrade with the Desert Kingsnake or the Mexican Black Kingsnake.[1]
[edit] Description
California Kingsnakes are most commonly patterned with a ground color of black with between 20 to 47 white bands or a single stripe down the middle of the back.[2] It has smooth non-keeled scales and a relatively cylindrical body. They average three to four and a half feet (1 – 1.4 m) in length as adults, but can sometimes attain lengths of five feet or more, depending on the population. Females are usually larger than males, a case of sexual dimorphism. The ventral scales may be patterned or solid-colored. They get to about 5 inches in birth.
[edit] Regional color variations
There are more than 70 combinations of patterns and coloration, known as morphs, that live in the wild. These generally fall under the basic categories of banded, striped, blotched, or unicolored, with additional variations in color and pattern depending on the particular population. Those found in desert regions generally have black and white bands, while coastal and inland valley individuals tend to be brown and yellow.[3] The belly is normally checkered, but striped morphs in San Diego County, California usually have a plain, yellow belly, or in some cases, an all-dark belly.[3]
In areas where striped snakes are found, there are also aberrant morphs present. Some aberrant morphs look like combinations of banded and striped patterns, while others are solidly colored, blotched, or dotted. There are five regions where striped patterns occur, and all are disjunct from each other. These are coastal Los Angeles and Orange counties ("Newport-Long Beach Striped"); San Diego and western Riverside counties and extreme northern Baja California, Mexico ("San Diego Striped"); the Delta region of central California ("Delta Striped"); the San Joaquin River region of central California ("Eiseni Striped"); and extreme southern Baja California ("Nitida Striped").[3] All of these regions were historically wet and marshy.
[edit] Captive-developed color variations
Since becoming common in captivity, California Kingsnakes have been bred by hobbyists into many different varieties not seen in the wild. Albinism is common in captive individuals, as are aberrant color patterns such as "reverse-stripe" or "high-white". California Kingsnakes are also hybridized with other types of snake, such as other subspecies of the Common Kingsnake, Milksnakes, and Cornsnakes, to produce additional variations in color and pattern.[1]
[edit] Habitat
California Kingsnakes, like other subspecies of the Common Kingsnake, utilize a wide variety of habitats, including those altered by human activity. They can be found in forests, deserts, grasslands, mountains, fields, coastal and suburban areas, and many other habitats as long as there is sufficient prey and shelter.[3] L.g.californiae prefers a relatively dry climate. They are commonly found under rocks, logs, and vegetation, as well as in mammal burrows.[3] Unlike the closely-related rat snakes, the California Kingsnake is not adapted to climbing and is almost always found close to the ground.
[edit] Behavior
The Californian Kingsnake is generally diurnal, however they become more nocturnal if the weather is too hot.[1][4] In the winter, they will usually go deep underground and enter a hibernation-like state called brumation, which is characterized by a slowed metabolism and reduced activity.
California Kingsnakes are predators, feeding on almost any vertebrate they can overpower. Common food items include rodents, other reptiles, birds, and amphibians. All kingsnakes are non-venomous, but are powerful constrictors and generally kill their prey through suffocation. The "king" in their name refers to their propensity to hunt and consume other snakes, particularly venomous rattlesnakes. California Kingsnakes are naturally impervious to the venom of rattlesnakes but are not totally immune. They feed on rattlesnakes regularly.
When disturbed, California Kingsnakes will often coil their bodies to hide their heads, hiss, and rattle their tails, which, if done in dry vegetation, can produce a sound somewhat resembling that of a rattlesnake's rattle. They are considered harmless to humans, but if handled it is common for this species to bite as well as excrete musk and fecal contents from their cloaca.
Kingsnakes usually shed four to six times per year at which point they go "opaque", meaning the snake's skin becomes dull and its eyes will turn a milky color. Like all snakes, they usually shed in one long piece, which includes their eye scales. Juvenile snakes will shed more frequently, up to once a month, than adult snakes because of their faster rate of growth. Prior to shedding, they will generally seek out humid microclimates in their habitat.
[edit] Reproduction
The California Kingsnake is an oviparous internal fertilization animal, meaning it lays eggs as opposed to giving live birth like some other snakes. Courtship for this kingsnake begins in the spring and involves the males competing for available females. Eggs are laid between May and August which is generally 42–63 days after mating;[1] in preparation the female will have chosen a suitable location. The typical clutch size is five to twelve eggs with an average of nine,[1] though clutches of 20 or more eggs are known. The hatchlings usually emerge another 40–65 days later, and are approximately eight to thirteen inches in length.[1]
[edit] In captivity
The California Kingsnake is one of the most popular pet reptiles, due to its ease of care, attractive appearance, and ability to become tame. It is also the most widely bred, and as such most available, subspecies of the Common Kingsnake.[1] They are kept in glass, plastic or wooden enclosures with suitable equipment to provide the right temperature and humidity. Regardless of the type of cage, its security is of utmost importance to prevent the reptile from escaping. Young individuals do best in smaller cages, and can be moved to larger environments as they age, as enclosures that are too large can cause unnecessary stress. Common substrates suitable for use with California Kingsnakes are aspen shavings, newspaper, and paper towels. Cedar and pine shavings are toxic to reptiles and should not be used. When a kingsnake is preparing to shed, it needs a humid environment to help shed the old skin.[1] A box containing damp moss or moistened paper towels is often provided to facilitate this process.
Temperatures should be kept at around 80–85°F (27–29°C),[1] with the cool end of this range at one end of the enclosure and the warm at the other end. This provides a thermal gradient within which the snake can self-regulate its own body temperature. Temperatures should not be allowed to go below 75°F or above 90°F as this can cause severe health problems. Humidity should be kept low (below 40%), and one suitable water bowl can provide this.[5]
In captivity, kingsnakes are generally fed rodents such as mice or rats. Young snakes need to be fed more frequently than adult snakes, often every five to seven days, a meal consisting of appropriately-sized rodents. Once grown, captive California Kingsnakes can be fed every ten to fourteen days. Snakes should not be handled extensively for the following 48 hours after eating, which can cause the snake to regurgitate its prey. When handling a kingsnake, the entire body of the animal should be supported and not tightly restrained. Young snakes and any individuals not accustomed to being handled may bite and smear cloacal contents on the handler, though most kingsnakes learn to tolerate being handled by humans relatively quickly.
TOXICITY AND TREATMENT
The King Snake is a non-poisonous species that loops around, constricts and then squeezes the prey until it suffocates it.
The snake must be fed unfrozen food. If not unfrozen then it will cause frostbite which will be deadly towards a snake.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Bartlett & Markel. 2005. "Kingsnakes and Milksnakes". Barron's Educational Services, Inc.
- ^ Hubbs, Brian. 2009. "Common Kingsnakes". Tricolor Books, Tempe, Arizona.
- ^ a b c d e Hubbs, Brian. 2009. "Common Kingsnakes". Tricolor Books, Tempe, Arizona.
- ^ http://rosamondgiffordzoo.org/documents/CaliforniaKingSnake.pdf
- ^ http://www.vmsherp.com/CarePages/CareCalKing.htm
[edit] External links
- Lampropeltis getula californiae - California Kingsnake - information and photos of wild snakes
- California Kingsnake - information on captive care
- DesertUSA: Common Kingsnake - information about wild Common Kingsnakes
