Lampropeltis getula

Lampropeltis getula
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Subfamily:	Colubrinae
Genus:	Lampropeltis
Species:	L. getula
Binomial name
Lampropeltis getula (Linnaeus, 1766)
Synonyms
Coluber getulus Linnaeus, 1766 Ophibolus getulus - Baird & Girard, 1853 Coronella Getulus - Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 Ophibolus getulus - Cope, 1875 Ophilobus getulus - Cope, 1892 Coronella getula - Boulenger, 1894 Triaeniopholis arenarius Werner, 1924 Lampropeltis getula goini Neill & Allen, 1949 Lampropeltis getulus brooksi Barbour, 1919 Lampropeltis getula - Stebbins, 1985 Lampropeltis getula - Conant & Collins, 1991 Lampropeltis getula - Liner, 1994[1]

Common names: eastern kingsnake,^[2] common kingsnake,^[3] chain kingsnake,^[4] (more).

Lampropeltis getula is a harmless colubrid species found in the United States and Mexico. A distinct color pattern and the common belief that this species actively hunts for venomous snakes helps to protect them from people. It has long been a favorite among collectors.^[4] Eight subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.^[5]

Description

L. g. getula can even be quite docile when caught wild.

Adult specimens are 39-78 inches (98.5–197 cm) in length.^[6] Specimens up to 82 inches (208.2 cm) have been recorded.The biggest one was measured 8.5 feet long.^[7]

The color pattern consists of a glossy black, blue-black or dark brown ground color overlaid with a series of 23-52 white chain-like rings.^[4][8] King snakes from the Coastal Plain have wider bands, while those found in mountainous areas have thinner bands or may be completely black.

Common names

Eastern kingsnake,^[2] common kingsnake,^[3] chain kingsnake,^[4] king snake, Carolina kingsnake, chain snake, bastard horn snake, black king snake, black moccasin, common chain snake, common king snake, cow sucker, eastern king snake, horse racer, master snake, North American king snake, oakleaf rattler, pied snake, pine snake, racer, rattlesnake pilot, thunder-and-lightning snake, thunderbolt, thunder snake, wamper, wampum snake.^[8] Also In North Carolina it is called the Pied Piper.

Geographic range

Found in the United States in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, southern Indiana, south and southwest Illinois, southern Iowa, Missouri, southeastern Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, portions of Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, southern and western Nevada, southern Utah, California, southern Oregon, southern Ohio and West Virginia. Also found in northern Mexico, including all of Baja California [Hubbs, 2009].^[1]

Habitat

Open areas are preferred, particularly grassland, but also chaparral, oak woodland, abandoned farms, desert, low mountains, sand, and any type of riparian zone, including swamps, canals and streams [Hubbs, 2009].

Diet

They eat snakes, including venomous snakes, being immune to their venoms. They also eat amphibians, turtle eggs, lizards, and small mammals, which they kill by constriction.^[9]

Reproduction

Oviparous, females lay up to several dozen eggs that hatch after 2-2.5 months of incubation. Hatchlings are brightly colored and feed on small snakes, lizards and rodents.^[4]

Captivity

Long a favorite among collectors, they do well in captivity, living for up to 25 years or more.^[4]

Subspecies

Subspecies[5]	Authority[5]	Common name[5]	Geographic range
L. g. californiae	(Blainville, 1835)	California kingsnake
L. g. floridana	Blanchard, 1919	Florida kingsnake
L. g. getula	(Linnaeus, 1766)	Eastern kingsnake
L. g. holbrooki	Stejneger, 1902	Speckled kingsnake
L. g. nigra	(Yarrow, 1882)	Black kingsnake
L. g. nigrita	Zweifel & Norris, 1955	Mexican black kingsnake
L. g. splendida	(Baird & Girard, 1853)	Desert kingsnake
L. g. meansi	Krysko & Judd, 2006	Apalachicola Lowlands Kingsnake	Apalachicola Lowlands, Florida

See also

• Colubridae by common name
• Colubridae by taxonomic synonyms

References

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

1. ^ ^{a b} Lampropeltis getula at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 29 June 2008.
2. ^ ^{a b} Conant R. 1975. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Second Edition. First published in 1958. Houghton Mifflin Company Boston. 429 pp. 48 plates. ISBN 0-395-19979-4. ISBN 0-395-19979-8 (pbk.).
3. ^ ^{a b} Behler JL, King FW. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. LCCCN 79-2217. ISBN 0-394-50824-6.
4. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Mehrtens JM. 1987. Living Snakes of the World in Color. New York: Sterling Publishers. 480 pp. ISBN 0-8069-6460-X.
5. ^ ^{a b c d} "Lampropeltis getula". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. http://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=209247. Retrieved 29 June 2008. 
6. ^ Burnie D, Wilson DE. 2001. Animal. Dorling Kindersley Publishing. 624 pp. ISBN 0-7894-7764-5.
7. ^ http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/fl-guide/Lampropeltisggetula.htm
8. ^ ^{a b} Wright AH, Wright AA. 1957. Handbook of Snakes. 2 volumes. Comstock Publishing Associates. (7th printing, 1985). 1105 pp. ISBN 0-8014-0463-0.
9. ^ Schmidt, K.P. and D.D. Davis. 1941. Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. G.P. Putnam's Sons. New York. p. 176.

External links

• Kingsnake Care Sheet
• Lampropeltis getula at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 14 July 2008.
• Eastern Kingsnake at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Accessed 29 June 2008.