Kingsnake

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Kingsnake

Scarlet King snake, Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Lampropeltis

Kingsnakes are a type of colubrid snake that are members of the Lampropeltis genus, which also includes the milk snake.

Lampropeltis means "shiny shield" (from Greek λαμπρος, "shine" + πελτα, "small shield"), due to their dorsal scales. The majority of kingsnakes have quite vibrant patterns on their skin. Kingsnakes use constriction to kill their prey and tend to be opportunistic when it comes to their diet; they will eat other snakes (ophiophagy), including venomous snakes, lizards, rodents, birds, and eggs. The Common Kingsnake genus are known to be immune to the venom of other snakes and are known to eat rattlesnakes (note - Kingsnakes are not necessarily immune to the venom of snakes from different localities.). The "king" in their name (as with the king cobra) references their taste for other snakes.

Some species of kingsnake, such as the Scarlet Kingsnake, have coloration and patterning which can cause them to be confused with the venomous coral snakes. There are several mnemonic rhymes to help people distinguish between the coral snake and its non-venomous look-alikes, such as:

  • "If red touches black, it's OK, Jack. If red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow."
  • "Red and yellow, kill a fellow. Red and black, friend of Jack."
  • "If yellow follows red, you're dead."

These rhymes refer to the color of the rings on the snake, and only apply to those coral snakes found in the United States.

Taxonomic reclassification is an ongoing process, and different sources often disagree, granting full species status to a group of these snakes that another source considers a subspecies. In the case of Lampropeltis catalinensis, for example, only a single specimen exists, and therefore classification is not necessarily finite. In addition, hybridization between species which have overlapping geographic ranges is not uncommon, confusing taxonomists further.

Kingsnakes are commonly kept as pets, due to their ease of care. Kingsnakes are overall hardy and simple to care for. Their captive diet usually consists of appropriately sized rodents, prekilled. Giving live rodents is an illegal offense in some countries and may be bad for the snake's health, as the rodents are high in fat. Kingsnakes are generally docile, curious and gentle. Kingsnakes seem to enjoy being handled. They also seemed to be mesmerized by patterns flashing on a television.

[edit] Species

Mole Kingsnake, Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata
California King Snake, Lampropeltis getula californiae
Eastern Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula getula

[edit] References

Hubbs, Brian. 2009. Common Kingsnakes. Tricolor Books, Tempe, Arizona.

Speckled King Snake

[edit] External links

Search Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lampropeltis
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