Kingsnakes are from the Colubridae family of snakes, the largest family in the serpetine order. Colubrids include about 75% of known snake species. They are loosely defined as "harmless snakes" and are typically slender bodied snakes without a pelvic girdle (like boas and pythons) and without fangs or venom. Although, some species have longer rear teeth with grooves somewhat like fangs, and others with Duvernoy glands have been found to have highly toxic venom. Which Kingsnakes have neither. Kingsnakes scientific name is Lampropeltis, (broken down is Lampro = radiant or shiny, and peltis = small shield) after how small and shiny their scales appear. They comprise of 8 species (Alterna, Calligaster, Getula, Mexicanna, Pyromelana, Ruthven, Triangulum, and Zonata) and 48 subspecies (not including probematic ones). Kingsnakes are seperated from other colubrids as having smooth, shiny scales with 2 apical pits on the dorsal scales, which are arranged in 17-27 rows. They also have also have a single anal plate.
Kingsnakes range anywhere from southern Canada to northern South America. They come in a wide variety of colors ranging from all black, as with the Mexican Black Kingsnake, to red, yellow and black bands as with the Scarlet Kingsnake and most Milk Snakes. It's thought that the colorations on some kingsnakes is a mimic of local venomous species of snakes. The most common mimic is of the coral snake with black, yellow and red bands. Another example is with the Greyband Kingsnake which seems to mimic the coloration of the Rock Rattlesnake. It's thought they use these mimics for self defense from other predators who would leave them alone thinking they're the venomous specie. Another defenses the Kingsnakes use, is to rattle their tails. The belief of why they do this, is to mimic a rattle snake sound while they're in leaf clutter. My Albino California Kingsnake rattles her tail every time I try to pick her up, so it's not hard to imagine walking up on a hidden kingsnake rattling it's tail and maybe just leaving it be because it MIGHT be a rattlesnake. Yet another defensive ploy they use is to musk (somewhat like a skunk but not near as bad).
Kingsnakes get their name because of the fact they eat other snakes. They are thought to be immune to the venom of some viper species, such as rattlesnakes, and copperheads. It is known that they will eat these snakes if given the chance. Rattle snakes have been shown to have a unique defensive behavior used only when confronted with a Kingsnake, and don't use when confronted with other possible predators.. Other things a kingsnake will eat include small mammals and rodents, small reptiles, and amphibians, birds and eggs. Kingsnakes are a fairly active snake compared to alot of python and boa species. They seem to like climbing and digging while in captivity, and roaming their tanks when their hungry. Most kingsnakes are terrestrial in nature and spend most of they're time hiding under rocks, logs or stumps.They're natural habitats range from marshes and swamps to desert and mountainous regions.
Kingsnakes are one of the most widely collected specie of snake in the Herping community. The reasons for this, I think, is because they do very well in captivity and require very little compared to many other types of herps. They will do well with a diet of just mice for their entire lives and don't require real specific humidity levels. Another reason I think they're a popular specie to keep, is they won't turn into monsters like alot of pythons or boas do. They stay at a very managable size, ranging from 2-6 feet long. They also come in a very wide variety of colors, giving you alot more variety to choose from. So good luck with your kingsnake and happy herping!!!!!!! |
