The Apalachicola kingsnake (also known as the Apalachicola Lowlands kingsnake) is a
subspecies of nonvenomous colubrid
snake
Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more j ...
found in a small area of the
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle (also West Florida and Northwest Florida) is the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Florida; it is a salient roughly long and wide, lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia on the north, and the G ...
known as the
Apalachicola Lowlands. Long argued as to whether or not it is a
subspecies, the Apalachicola kingsnake was formerly named ''Lampropeltis getula goini''. After years of research and many more specimens examined, in 2006, it was renamed to ''L. g. meansi'' after D. Bruce Means, in recognition of his work on this subspecies.
Description
Adults can range from 30 to 56.1 inches. They are characterized by variable coloration patterns with an overall light dorsal coloration and wide or thin banding patterns. However, some striped and patternless specimens have also been identified. The ventral pattern is also variable; some with bicolored, loose checkerboard, or predominantly dark scales. They possess smooth scales and have 21 dorsal scale rows at mid-body.
Geographic range
The Apalachicola kingsnake is endemic to Florida, and is only found in the panhandle between the
Apalachicola River and
Ochlokonee River and south of
Telogia Creek
Telogia Creek is a waterway in Florida. It is a major tributary of the Ochlockonee River. It is used for canoeing. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) monitors its discharge near Bristol, Florida, Bristol. The stream's water quality is moni ...
. Morphological intermediates are found on both northern and southern ends of the range. These intermediates represent interbreeding between the Apalachicola kingsnake (''L. g. meansi)'' and the eastern kingsnake (''L. g getula'').
Habitat
Suitable habitat varies, but their range is quite small. Their habitat includes pinelands, hardwood hammocks, cypress strands, prairies, marshes, and estuaries.
Diet
Their diet includes snakes, even venomous ones such as the rattlesnake, lizards, amphibians, rodents, birds, and turtle and bird eggs.
Reproduction
Like other kingsnakes, they are oviparous, or egg-laying. Breeding takes place in March, April, and May, and after a month, three to 30 eggs are laid. The eggs hatch in late summer, 65 to 70 days after they have been laid. The hatchlings have an enormous appetite and grow quickly.
References
Sources
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q6482597
getula meansi