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Kingsnakes are
colubrid Colubridae (, commonly known as colubrids , from , 'snake') is a family of snakes. With 249 genera, it is the largest snake family. The earliest fossil species of the family date back to the Late Eocene epoch, with earlier origins suspected. Colu ...
New World The term "New World" is used to describe the majority of lands of Earth's Western Hemisphere, particularly the Americas, and sometimes Oceania."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: ...
members of the
genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
''Lampropeltis'', which includes 26
species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
. Among these, about 45
subspecies In Taxonomy (biology), biological classification, subspecies (: subspecies) is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (Morphology (biology), morpholog ...
are recognized. They are nonvenomous and ophiophagous in diet.


Description

Kingsnakes vary widely in size and coloration. They can be as small as 24" (61 cm) or as long as 60" (152 cm). Some kingsnakes are colored in muted browns to black, while others are brightly marked in white, reds, yellows, grays, and lavenders that form rings, longitudinal stripes, speckles, and saddle-shaped bands. Most kingsnakes have quite vibrant patterns. Some species, such as the scarlet kingsnake, Mexican milk snake, and red milk snake, have coloration and patterning that can cause them to be confused with the highly venomous
coral snake Coral snakes are a large group of elapid snakes that can be divided into two distinct groups, the Old World coral snakes and New World coral snakes. There are 27 species of Old World coral snakes, in three genera ('' Calliophis'', '' Hemibungar ...
s. One of the
mnemonic A mnemonic device ( ), memory trick or memory device is any learning technique that aids information retention or retrieval in the human memory, often by associating the information with something that is easier to remember. It makes use of e ...
rhymes to help people distinguish between coral snakes and their nonvenomous lookalikes in the United States is "red on black, a friend of Jack; red on yellow, kill a fellow". Other variations include "red on yellow kill a fellow, red on black venom lack", and referencing the order of traffic lights "yellow, red, stop!" All these mnemonics apply only to the three species of coral snakes native to the southern United States: ''
Micrurus fulvius ''Micrurus fulvius'', Common name, commonly known as the eastern coral snake,John L. Behler, Behler John L.; Frederic Wayne King, King, F. Wayne (1979). ''The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians''. New York: Alf ...
'' (the eastern or common coral snake), '' Micrurus tener'' (the Texas coral snake), and '' Micruroides euryxanthus'' (the Arizona coral snake). Coral snakes found in other parts of the world can have distinctly different patterns, such as having red bands touching black bands, having only pink and blue bands, or having no bands at all.


Etymology

''Lampropeltis'' includes the Greek words for "shiny shield": ("shiny") + (" ''peltē'' shield") + (a Latin suffix). The name is given to them in reference to their smooth, enamel-like
dorsal scales In snakes, the dorsal scales are the longitudinal series of plates that encircle the body, but do not include the ventral scales. Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). ''The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere''. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publis ...
. The "king" in the common name (as with the
king cobra The king cobra (''Ophiophagus hannah'') is a species complex of snakes Endemism, endemic to Asia. With an average of and a record length of , it is the world's longest venomous snake and among the heaviest. Under the genus ''Ophiophagus'', i ...
) refers to its preying on other snakes.


Taxonomy

Taxonomic reclassification of kingsnakes, as with many herpetiles and other animals, is a neverending process. Unexpected hybridization between kingsnake species and/or subspecies with adjacent home territories is not uncommon, thus creating new color morphs and variations, and further providing classification challenges for
taxonomist In biology, taxonomy () is the science, scientific study of naming, defining (Circumscription (taxonomy), circumscribing) and classifying groups of biological organisms based on shared characteristics. Organisms are grouped into taxon, taxa (si ...
s; Often, different researchers will “agree to disagree”, one potentially citing a source that proves independent species-status to a group of wild snakes, while another will set out to prove that a discovered group is but a regional subspecies. In the case of ''L. catalinensis'', for example, only a single specimen is known, thus classification is not necessarily finite; this individual could be the lone uniquely-colored snake out of a more uniformly-colored litter, or even be the one documented example of a presently-unknown, localized subspecies. The entire system actively unfolding indefinitely.


Range

Kingsnakes are native to North America, where they are found all over the United States and into Mexico. This genus has adapted to a wide variety of habitats, including tropical forests, shrublands, and deserts. As a whole, kingsnakes are found coast-to-coast across North America, with some as far north as Montana, North Dakota, New Jersey, Illinois and Ohio; south of those areas, there are kingsnakes to be found in nearly every corner of the lower-48 United States. Kingsnakes are also found virtually coast-to-coast across México, all the way down to the México-Guatemala border. Further south from there, milksnakes become the more predominant kingsnake in Central America, such as the Honduran milk snake.


Predators

Kingsnakes are often preyed upon by large vertebrates, such as
birds of prey Birds of prey or predatory birds, also known as (although not the same as) raptors, are hypercarnivorous bird species that actively predation, hunt and feed on other vertebrates (mainly mammals, reptiles and smaller birds). In addition to speed ...
.
Tarantula Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae. , 1,100 species have been identified, with 166 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although ...
s also sometimes prey on them; however, a considerable threat also comes from other kingsnakes. All species of kingsnakes are known snake- and reptile-eaters, and likely won't turn down a chance to prey on their local competitors.


Behavior and diet

Kingsnakes are primarily terrestrial, but they are also known to be capable climbers and swimmers. Kingsnakes use constriction to kill their prey and tend to be opportunistic in their diet. They are known to seek out and eat other snakes ( ophiophagy), including
venomous snake ''Venomous snakes'' are species of the suborder Serpentes that are capable of producing venom, which they use for killing prey, for defense, and to assist with digestion of their prey. The venom is typically delivered by injection using hollow ...
s, like rattlesnakes,
cottonmouth ''Agkistrodon piscivorus'' is a species of venomous snake, a pit viper in the subfamily Crotalinae of the family Viperidae. It is one of the world's few semiaquatic vipers (along with the Florida cottonmouth), and is native to the Southeaster ...
s,
copperheads Copperhead may refer to: Snakes * ''Agkistrodon contortrix'', or eastern copperhead, a venomous pit viper species found in parts of North America * '' Agkistrodon laticinctus'', or broad-banded copperhead, a pit viper species found in the southe ...
. Some known non-venomous prey species of the kingsnake include gopher snakes,
corn snake The corn snake (''Pantherophis guttatus''), sometimes called red rat snake is a species of North American rat snake in the Family (biology), family Colubridae. The species subdues its small prey by constriction. It is found throughout the sout ...
s, hognoses, and bullsnakes,
garter snake Garter snake is the common name for small to medium-sized snakes belonging to the genus ''Thamnophis'' in the Family (biology), family Colubridae. They are native to North America, North and Central America, ranging from central Canada in the no ...
s,
rosy boa ''Lichanura'', the rosy boas, are a genus of snakes in the Family (biology), family Boidae. They are distributed across the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Species There are two recognized species: References

Boida ...
, water snakes, and brown snakes. Kingsnakes also eat many species of
lizard Lizard is the common name used for all Squamata, squamate reptiles other than snakes (and to a lesser extent amphisbaenians), encompassing over 7,000 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica, as well as most Island#Oceanic isla ...
s,
rodent Rodents (from Latin , 'to gnaw') are mammals of the Order (biology), order Rodentia ( ), which are characterized by a single pair of continuously growing incisors in each of the upper and Mandible, lower jaws. About 40% of all mammal specie ...
s,
bird Birds are a group of warm-blooded vertebrates constituting the class (biology), class Aves (), characterised by feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the Oviparity, laying of Eggshell, hard-shelled eggs, a high Metabolism, metabolic rate, a fou ...
s, and
egg An egg is an organic vessel grown by an animal to carry a possibly fertilized egg cell (a zygote) and to incubate from it an embryo within the egg until the embryo has become an animal fetus that can survive on its own, at which point the ...
s.Conant, Roger (1975). ''A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition''. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 429 pp.
(paperback). (Genus ''Lampropeltis'', p. 201.)
The common kingsnake is known to be immune to the venom of other snakes and does eat
rattlesnake Rattlesnakes are venomous snakes that form the genus, genera ''Crotalus'' and ''Sistrurus'' of the subfamily Crotalinae (the pit vipers). All rattlesnakes are vipers. Rattlesnakes are predators that live in a wide array of habitats, hunting sm ...
s, but it is not necessarily immune to the venom of snakes from different localities. Kingsnakes such as the California kingsnake can exert twice as much constriction force relative to body size as rat snakes and pythons. Scientists believe that such strong coils may be an adaptation to eating snakes, and other reptile prey, which can endure lower blood-oxygen levels before asphyxiating.


List of kingsnake species and subspecies

Kingsnake species and subspecies include (listed here alphabetically by specific and subspecific name): *Guatemalan milk snake, '' Lampropeltis abnorma'' ( Bocourt, 1886) * Gray-banded kingsnake, ''Lampropeltis alterna'' ( A. E. Brown, 1901) *Mexican milk snake, '' Lampropeltis annulata'' Kennicott, 1860 * California kingsnake, ''Lampropeltis californiae'' ( Blainville, 1835) ** Mexican black kingsnake, ''L. c. nigrita'' Zweifel & Norris, 1955 *Prairie kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis calligaster'' ( Harlan, 1827) *Santa Catalina Island kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis catalinensis'' Van Denburgh & Slevin, 1921 *
Scarlet kingsnake The scarlet kingsnake (''Lampropeltis elapsoides'') is a species of kingsnake found in the southeastern and eastern portions of the United States. Like all kingsnakes, they are venomous snake, nonvenomous. They are found in pine flatwoods, hydric ...
or scarlet milk snake, ''Lampropeltis elapsoides'' ( Holbrook, 1838) *Short-tailed snake, '' Lampropeltis extenuata'' ( R.E. Brown, 1890) *Central Plains milk snake, '' Lampropeltis gentilis'' ( Baird & Girard, 1853) *Common kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis getula'' (
Linnaeus Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné,#Blunt, Blunt (2004), p. 171. was a Swedish biologist and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming o ...
, 1766) **Brooks's kingsnake, '' L. g. brooksi'' Barbour, 1919 ** Florida kingsnake, ''L. g. floridana'' ( Blanchard, 1919) **Eastern kingsnake, '' L. g. getula'' (Linnaeus, 1766) ** Apalachicola Lowlands kingsnake, '' L. g. meansi'' Krysko & Judd, 2006 *Greer's kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis greeri'' (
Webb Webb may refer to: Places Antarctica *Webb Glacier (South Georgia) *Webb Glacier (Victoria Land) * Webb Névé, Victoria Land, the névé at the head of Seafarer Glacier * Webb Nunataks, a group of nunataks in the Neptune Range * Webb Peak (disa ...
, 1961) * Speckled kingsnake, ''Lampropeltis holbrooki'' Stejneger, 1902 *Madrean mountain kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis knoblochi''
Taylor Taylor, Taylors or Taylor's may refer to: People * Taylor (surname) ** List of people with surname Taylor * Taylor (given name), including Tayla and Taylah * Taylor sept, a branch of Scottish clan Cameron * Justice Taylor (disambiguation) ...
, 1940 *Nuevo León kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis leonis'' ( Günther, 1893) *Mexican kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis mexicana'' ( Garman, 1884) *Ecuadorian milk snake, '' Lampropeltis micropholis'' Cope, 1860 *Black kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis nigra'' (
Yarrow ''Achillea millefolium'', commonly known as yarrow () or common yarrow, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. Growing to tall, it is characterized by small whitish flowers, a tall stem of fernlike leaves, and a pungent odor. The plan ...
, 1882) *South Florida mole kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis occipitolineata''
Price A price is the (usually not negative) quantity of payment or compensation expected, required, or given by one party to another in return for goods or services. In some situations, especially when the product is a service rather than a ph ...
, 1987 *Atlantic Central American milk snake, '' Lampropeltis polyzona'' Cope, 1860 *Arizona mountain kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis pyromelana'' (
Cope A cope ( ("rain coat") or ("cape")) is a liturgical long mantle or cloak, open at the front and fastened at the breast with a band or clasp. It may be of any liturgical colour. A cope may be worn by any rank of the Catholic or Anglican clerg ...
, 1866) **Utah mountain kingsnake, ''L. p. infralabialis'' W. Tanner, 1953 **Arizona mountain kingsnake, ''L. p. pyromelana'' (Cope, 1866) *Mole kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis rhombomaculata'' (Holbrook, 1840) *Ruthven's kingsnake, ''
Lampropeltis ruthveni ''Lampropeltis ruthveni'' (common name: Ruthven's kingsnake) is a species of kingsnake in the family Colubridae. The species was described by Frank N. Blanchard in 1920 and named after American herpetologist Alexander Grant Ruthven. Beolens B ...
'' (Blanchard, 1920) *Desert kingsnake, '' Lampropeltis splendida'' (Baird & Girard, 1853) * Milk snake, ''Lampropeltis triangulum'' ( Lacépède, 1789) *''
Lampropeltis webbi ''Lampropeltis webbi'' is a species of king snake in the Family (biology), family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Mexico. Currently, there are only five known specimens, with one being a live snake. Etymology The Specific name (zoology), s ...
'' Bryson, Dixon & Lazcano, 2005 * California mountain kingsnake, ''Lampropeltis zonata'' ( Lockington, 1876 ''ex'' Blainville, 1835) **San Pedro kingsnake, ''L. z. agalma'' (Van Denburgh & Slevin, 1923) **Todos Santos Island kingsnake, ''L. z. herrerae'' (Van Denburgh & Slevin, 1923) **Sierra Nevada mountain kingsnake, ''L. z. multicincta'' (Yarrow, 1882) **Coast Ranges mountain kingsnake, ''L. z. multifasciata'' (Bocourt, 1886) **San Bernardino mountain kingsnake, ''L. z. parvirubra'' Zweifel, 1952 ** San Diego mountain kingsnake, ''L. z. pulchra'' Zweifel, 1952 **Saint Helena mountain kingsnake, ''L. z. zonata'' (Lockington, 1876 ''ex'' Blainville, 1835) Additionally, Pyron and Burbrink have argued that the short-tailed snake (''Stilosoma extenuatum'') (Brown, 1890) should be included in ''Lampropeltis''. Pyron, R. Alexander; Frank T. Burbrink (2009). "Neogene diversification and taxonomic stability in the snake tribe Lampropeltini (Serpentes: Colubridae)". ''Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution'' 52(#2):524-529.


References


Further reading

*Hubbs, Brian (2009). ''Common Kingsnakes: A Natural History of'' Lampropeltis getula. Tempe, Arizona: Tricolor Books.


External links


Desert USA: Common KingsnakeCommon Kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula
Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide

{{Authority control Lampropeltis Snake genera Taxa named by Leopold Fitzinger