# Kingsnake

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Genus of snakes

For the DC Comics supervillain, see [King Snake](/source/King_Snake).

Not to be confused with [King cobra](/source/King_cobra) or [King brown snake](/source/King_brown_snake).

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Kingsnakes Temporal range: Miocene – recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N [1] Scarlet kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides) Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Tribe: Lampropeltini Genus: Lampropeltis Fitzinger, 1843 Synonyms Ablabes, Bellophis, Herpetodryas, Ophibolus, Osceola, Phibolus, Pseudelaps, Zacholus

**Kingsnakes** are [colubrid](/source/Colubridae) [New World](/source/New_World) members of the [genus](/source/Genus) ***Lampropeltis***, which includes 26 [species](/source/Species). Among these, about 45 [subspecies](/source/Subspecies) are recognized. They are nonvenomous and [ophiophagous](/source/Ophiophagy) 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).[2] 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.[3]

Most kingsnakes have quite vibrant patterns. Some species, such as the scarlet kingsnake, [Mexican milk snake](/source/Mexican_milk_snake), and [red milk snake](/source/Red_milk_snake), have coloration and patterning that can cause them to be confused with the highly venomous [coral snakes](/source/Coral_snake). One of the [mnemonic](/source/Mnemonic) 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",[4][5] 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](/source/Micrurus_fulvius)* (the eastern or common coral snake), *[Micrurus tener](/source/Micrurus_tener)* (the Texas coral snake), and *[Micruroides euryxanthus](/source/Micruroides_euryxanthus)* (the Arizona coral snake). Coral snakes found in other parts of the world can have distinctly different patterns, 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":[6] [λαμπρός](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%BB%CE%B1%CE%BC%CF%80%CF%81%CF%8C%CF%82#Ancient_Greek) *lampro(s)* ("shiny") + [πέλτη](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CF%80%CE%AD%CE%BB%CF%84%CE%B7#Ancient_Greek) *pelt(ē)* ("[*peltē* shield](/source/Pelt%C4%93)") + *[-is](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/-is#Latin)* (a Latin suffix). The name is given to them in reference to their smooth, enamel-like [dorsal scales](/source/Dorsal_scales).[7]

The "king" in the common name (as with the [king cobra](/source/King_cobra)) refers to its preying on other snakes.[8]

## Taxonomy

[Taxonomic](/source/Taxonomy_(biology)) reclassification of kingsnakes, as with many [herpetiles](/source/Herpetology) and other animals, is an ongoing process. Unexpected [hybridization](/source/Hybrid_(biology)) 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 [taxonomists](/source/Taxonomist); 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.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

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.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Range

Kingsnakes are native to North America, where they are found in much of the United States and into Mexico. The genus has adapted to a wide variety of habitats, including tropical forests, shrublands, and deserts. 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](/source/Honduran_milk_snake).

## Predators

Kingsnakes are often preyed upon by large vertebrates such as [birds of prey](/source/Bird_of_prey). [Tarantulas](/source/Tarantula) also sometimes prey on them. In addition, other kingsnakes themselves constitute a considerable threat, as all species of kingsnakes are known snake- and reptile-eaters.[9]

## Behavior and diet

Kingsnakes are primarily terrestrial, but they are also known to be capable climbers and swimmers.

Kingsnakes use [constriction](/source/Constriction) to kill their prey and tend to be opportunistic feeders. They are known to seek out and eat other snakes ([ophiophagy](/source/Ophiophagy)), including [venomous snakes](/source/Venomous_snake) such as [rattlesnakes](/source/Rattlesnakes), [cottonmouths](/source/Cottonmouth), and [copperheads](/source/Eastern_copperhead). Some known non-venomous prey species of the kingsnake include [gopher snakes](/source/Gopher_snake), [corn snakes](/source/Corn_snake), [hognoses](/source/Hognose_snake), and [bullsnakes](/source/Bullsnake), [garter snakes](/source/Garter_snake), [rosy boa](/source/Rosy_boa), [water snakes](/source/Nerodia), and [brown snakes](/source/Brown_snake). Kingsnakes also eat a variety of [lizards](/source/Lizard), [rodents](/source/Rodent), [birds](/source/Bird), and [eggs](/source/Egg).[10] The [common kingsnake](/source/Common_kingsnake) is known to be immune to the venom of other snakes and does eat [rattlesnakes](/source/Rattlesnake), but it is not necessarily immune to the venom of snakes from distant localities.[10]

Kingsnakes such as the [California kingsnake](/source/California_kingsnake) can exert twice as much constriction force relative to its body size as [rat snakes](/source/Rat_snake) and [pythons](/source/Pythonidae). Scientists believe that such strong coils may be an adaptation to eating snakes and other reptilian prey, which can endure lower blood-oxygen levels before asphyxiating.[11]

## List of kingsnake species and subspecies

Mole kingsnake (*[Lampropeltis rhombomaculata](/source/Lampropeltis_rhombomaculata)*)

[California kingsnake](/source/California_kingsnake) (*Lampropeltis californiae*)

[Eastern kingsnake](/source/Lampropeltis_getula) (*Lampropeltis getula getula*)

[Speckled kingsnake](/source/Speckled_kingsnake) (*Lampropeltis holbrooki*)

Kingsnake species and subspecies include (listed here alphabetically by specific and subspecific name):[12]

- Guatemalan milk snake, *[Lampropeltis abnorma](/source/Lampropeltis_abnorma)* ([Bocourt](/source/Marie_Firmin_Bocourt), 1886)

- [Gray-banded kingsnake](/source/Gray-banded_kingsnake), *Lampropeltis alterna* ([A. E. Brown](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Irwin_Brown), 1901)

- Mexican milk snake, *[Lampropeltis annulata](/source/Lampropeltis_annulata)* [Kennicott](/source/Robert_Kennicott), 1860

- [California kingsnake](/source/California_kingsnake), *Lampropeltis californiae* ([Blainville](/source/Henri_Marie_Ducrotay_de_Blainville), 1835) - [Mexican black kingsnake](/source/Mexican_black_kingsnake), *L. c. nigrita* [Zweifel](/source/Richard_G._Zweifel) & [Norris](/source/Kenneth_S._Norris), 1955

- Prairie kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis calligaster](/source/Lampropeltis_calligaster)* ([Harlan](/source/Richard_Harlan), 1827)

- Santa Catalina Island kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis catalinensis](/source/Lampropeltis_catalinensis)* [Van Denburgh](/source/John_Van_Denburgh) & [Slevin](/source/Joseph_Richard_Slevin), 1921

- [Scarlet kingsnake](/source/Scarlet_kingsnake) or scarlet milk snake, *Lampropeltis elapsoides* ([Holbrook](/source/John_Edwards_Holbrook), 1838)

- Short-tailed snake, *[Lampropeltis extenuata](/source/Lampropeltis_extenuata)* ([R.E. Brown](https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Erwin_Brown), 1890)

- Central Plains milk snake, *[Lampropeltis gentilis](/source/Lampropeltis_gentilis)* ([Baird](/source/Spencer_Fullerton_Baird) & [Girard](/source/Charles_Fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric_Girard), 1853)

- Common kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis getula](/source/Lampropeltis_getula)* ([Linnaeus](/source/Carl_Linnaeus), 1766) - Brooks's kingsnake, *[L. g. brooksi](/source/Lampropeltis_getula_brooksi)* [Barbour](/source/Thomas_Barbour), 1919 - [Florida kingsnake](/source/Florida_kingsnake), *L. g. floridana* ([Blanchard](/source/Frank_N._Blanchard), 1919) - Eastern kingsnake, *[L. g. getula](/source/Lampropeltis_getula)* (Linnaeus, 1766) - [Apalachicola Lowlands](/source/Apalachicola%2C_Florida) kingsnake, *[L. g. meansi](/source/Lampropeltis_getula_meansi)* [Krysko](/source/Kenney_Krysko) & [Judd](/source/Walter_S._Judd), 2006

- Greer's kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis greeri](/source/Lampropeltis_greeri)* ([Webb](/source/Robert_G._Webb), 1961)

- [Speckled kingsnake](/source/Speckled_kingsnake), *Lampropeltis holbrooki* [Stejneger](/source/Leonhard_Stejneger), 1902

- Madrean mountain kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis knoblochi](/source/Lampropeltis_knoblochi)* [Taylor](/source/Edward_Harrison_Taylor), 1940

- Nuevo León kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis leonis](/source/Lampropeltis_leonis)* ([Günther](/source/Albert_G%C3%BCnther), 1893)

- Mexican kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis mexicana](/source/Lampropeltis_mexicana)* ([Garman](/source/Samuel_Garman), 1884)

- Ecuadorian milk snake, *[Lampropeltis micropholis](/source/Lampropeltis_micropholis)* Cope, 1860

- Black kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis nigra](/source/Lampropeltis_nigra)* ([Yarrow](/source/H._C._Yarrow), 1882)

- South Florida mole kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis occipitolineata](/source/Lampropeltis_occipitolineata)* [Price](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Robert_M._Price), 1987

- Atlantic Central American milk snake, *[Lampropeltis polyzona](/source/Lampropeltis_polyzona)* Cope, 1860

- Arizona mountain kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis pyromelana](/source/Lampropeltis_pyromelana)* ([Cope](/source/Edward_Drinker_Cope), 1866) - Utah mountain kingsnake, *L. p. infralabialis* [W. Tanner](/source/Wilmer_W._Tanner), 1953 - Arizona mountain kingsnake, *L. p. pyromelana* (Cope, 1866)

- Mole kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis rhombomaculata](/source/Lampropeltis_rhombomaculata)* (Holbrook, 1840)

- Ruthven's kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis ruthveni](/source/Lampropeltis_ruthveni)* (Blanchard, 1920)

- Desert kingsnake, *[Lampropeltis splendida](/source/Lampropeltis_splendida)* (Baird & Girard, 1853)

- [Milk snake](/source/Milk_snake), *Lampropeltis triangulum* ([Lacépède](/source/Bernard_Germain_de_Lac%C3%A9p%C3%A8de), 1789)

- *[Lampropeltis webbi](/source/Lampropeltis_webbi)* [Bryson](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Robert_W._Bryson), [Dixon](/source/James_R._Dixon) & [Lazcano](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/David_Lazcano), 2005

- [California mountain kingsnake](/source/California_mountain_kingsnake), *Lampropeltis zonata* ([Lockington](/source/William_Neale_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](/source/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](/source/Short-tailed_snake) (*Stilosoma extenuatum*) (Brown, 1890) should be included in *Lampropeltis*.[13]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Fossilworks: Lampropeltis"](https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=67553).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Markel, Ronald G. (1990). *Kingsnakes and Milk Snakes*. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780866226646](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780866226646).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Peterson_3-0)** [Powell, Robert](/source/Robert_Powell_(herpetologist)); [Conant, Roger](/source/Roger_Conant_(herpetologist)); [Collins, Joseph T.](/source/Joseph_T._Collins) (2016). [*Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition*](https://books.google.com/books?id=NzdDCgAAQBAJ&q=lampropeltis+range&pg=PA375). Boston and New York: [Houghton Mifflin Harcourt](/source/Houghton_Mifflin_Harcourt). pp. 375–381. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0544662-490](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0544662-490).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Life's Better Outdoors, South Carolina Department of natural resources](https://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/herps/faqs.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150630091704/http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/herps/faqs.html) 2015-06-30 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (see FAQ's. -- "are there any visual clues"). Retrieved July 15, 2015

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Ignatavicius, Donna D.; Workman, M. Linda (2015). *Medical-Surgical Nursing: Patient-Centered Collaborative Care, Eighth Edition*. (pages 141-142)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Lampropeltis"](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Lampropeltis). *[Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary](/source/Merriam-Webster)*. Merriam-Webster. [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1032680871](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1032680871).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Tennant, Alan (2006). [*Lone Star Field Guide to Texas Snakes*](https://books.google.com/books?id=T23nAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA193). Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 193. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-4616-3564-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-4616-3564-2). the smooth dorsal scales have an enamel-like surface to which the genus' Latin name, *Lampropeltis*, or "shining skin shield," refers.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Archived at [Ghostarchive](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/tCfw841tK8Q) and the [Wayback Machine](https://web.archive.org/web/20191002120308/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCfw841tK8Q&gl=US&hl=en): ["King snake vs Rattlesnake Oro Valley Az"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCfw841tK8Q). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*. 2015-12-12.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Archived at [Ghostarchive](https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/0NDf2J5Mmjo) and the [Wayback Machine](https://web.archive.org/web/20170725000138/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NDf2J5Mmjo): ["Spider vs snake"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NDf2J5Mmjo). *[YouTube](/source/YouTube)*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Conant1975_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Conant1975_10-1) Conant, Roger (1975). *A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition*. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 429 pp. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-395-19977-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-395-19977-8) (paperback). (Genus *Lampropeltis*, p. 201.)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Snake Kills Bigger Snakes with World's Most Powerful Squeeze"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170316034630/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/03/snakes-constrictors-kill-predators-muscles/). 2017-03-15. Archived from [the original](http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/03/snakes-constrictors-kill-predators-muscles/) on March 16, 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Genus *[Lampropeltis](https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/advanced_search?genus=Lampropeltis&exact=genus&submit=Search)* at [The Reptile Database](http://www.reptile-database.org/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** [Pyron, R. Alexander](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Robert_Alexander_Pyron); [Frank T. Burbrink](https://species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Frank_T._Burbrink) (2009). "Neogene diversification and taxonomic stability in the snake tribe Lampropeltini (Serpentes: Colubridae)". *Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution* 52(#2):524-529.

## Further reading

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

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Lampropeltis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Lampropeltis).

- [Desert USA: Common Kingsnake](http://www.desertusa.com/magfeb98/feb_pap/du_kingsnake.html)

- [Common Kingsnake - Lampropeltis getula](http://www.herpnet.net/Iowa-Herpetology/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=26) Species account from the Iowa Reptile and Amphibian Field Guide

- [Kingsnake eating a garter snake](http://www.mister-toad.com/photos/snake/kingsnake_eat_garter_01.html)

Taxon identifiers Lampropeltis Wikidata: Q1364033 Wikispecies: Lampropeltis CoL: 62XJG EoL: 17021 GBIF: 2459125 iNaturalist: 29768 ITIS: 174184 NCBI: 94873 Paleobiology Database: 67553

Authority control databases: National Czech Republic

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kingsnake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsnake) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsnake?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.