{{Short description|Subspecies of snake}} {{subspeciesbox | name = Andean milk snake | image = Andean Milk Snake 001.jpg | image_caption = | genus = Lampropeltis | species = triangulum | species_link = Milk snake | subspecies = andesiana | authority = Williams, 1978<ref name="Bartlett2005">{{cite book |last= Bartlett |first= R.D. |author2= Ronald G. Markel |title= Kingsnakes and Milksnakes |publisher= Barron's Educational Series, Inc. |year= 2005 |isbn= 0-7641-2853-1 |page= [https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780764128530/page/82 82] |url-access= registration |url= https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780764128530/page/82 }}</ref> }}

'''''Lampropeltis triangulum andesiana''''', commonly known as the '''Andean milksnake''', is an alpine subspecies of milk snake.

==Description== These colorful snakes are covered in stripes of red, black, and yellow, often with black speckles on each scale. At up to {{convert|6|ft}} long, this is one of the two largest<ref name="Bartlett2005" /> subspecies of milk snake.

==Geographic range== Milk snakes range throughout the Americas, from Canada south to Ecuador. The Andean subspecies of milk snake occurs in the Andes Mountains of Colombia and Venezuela.

==Habitat== Andean milksnakes inhabit high altitude forests and grasslands, up to {{convert|9,000|ft}} in elevation.

==Behavior== As mountain dwellers, Andean milk snakes can tolerate much lower temperatures than most snakes. They spend much of the time in burrows or under logs, where they are safe from predators and from cold weather. Milk snakes often come out of their dens in the afternoon or evening to hunt.

==Reproduction==

Females may lay up to four clutches of eggs per year, with 12 - 20 eggs per clutch. Hatchlings are 8 - 10<ref name="Bartlett2005" /> inches long, but reach an adult length of 38 to 70&nbsp;inches. The captive lifespan can be more than 15 years.

==Diet==

Like all snakes, Andean milk snakes are carnivores. Young milk snakes mostly eat insects, while larger milk snakes eat small mammals, birds, eggs, amphibians, and other reptiles, including venomous snakes. Like most snakes, milk snakes only need to eat once every one or two weeks.

==Conservation status==

Not listed on CITES or the [http://www.redlist.org IUCN Red List of Threatened and Endangered Species]. Little is known about the wild population of Andean milk snakes, but they are thought to be common. These docile, colorful snakes are widely bred in captivity for the pet trade.

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *Caribbean Journal of Science. (2003) 39(2):235-236. *M O'Shea and T Halliday. 2002. ''Reptiles and Amphibians''. Doring Kindersley, Inc. *[http://www.kingsnake.com/king/triangulum/andesiana.html Andean Milksnake Caresheet, Kingsnake.com]

{{Taxonbar|from=Q6482603}}

Category:Lampropeltis Category:Snakes of South America Category:Fauna of the Andes Category:Reptiles of Colombia Category:Reptiles of Venezuela Category:Taxa named by Kenneth L. Williams