{{Short description|Subspecies of snake}} {{speciesbox | name = Mexican milksnake | image = Lampropeltis triangulum annulata.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{cite iucn |author=Hammerson, G.A. |year=2019 |title=''Lampropeltis annulata'' |volume=2019 |article-number=e.T90069044A90069062 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T90069044A90069062.en |access-date=20 May 2023}}</ref> | genus = Lampropeltis | species = annulata | authority = [[Robert Kennicott|Kennicott]], 1860 }}
'''''Lampropeltis annulata''''', commonly known as the '''Mexican''' or '''Tamaulipan milksnake''', is a non-[[Venomous snake|venomous]] [[species]] of [[milk snake|milksnake]] ([[Family (taxonomy)|family]] [[Colubridae]]). It is native to [[Northern Mexico|northwestern Mexico]] and some adjacent [[Mexico–United States border]] regions.
==Geographic range and habitat== This milksnake species is native to the dry, [[Semi-arid climate|semi-arid]] regions of northeastern and north-central Mexico,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Observations • iNaturalist |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=101545&taxon_id=26504&view=species |access-date=2 April 2024 |website=[[iNaturalist]]}}</ref> predominantly the [[List of states of Mexico|states]] of [[Coahuila]], [[Tamaulipas]] and [[Nuevo León]],<ref name=":0" /> and may additionally be found as far south as [[Guanajuato]], [[Hidalgo (state)|Hidalgo]], [[San Luis Potosí]] and [[Querétaro]], and as far east as the coast of [[Veracruz]].<ref name=":0" /> It may also be found as far north as [[South Texas|southwestern Texas, United States]],<ref name=":0" /> where it has been observed near cities as far north as [[Kerrville, Texas|Kerrville]], [[Ozona, Texas|Ozona]], [[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]] and [[San Antonio]], among others.<ref>{{cite web |title=Mexican Milk Snake - The Living Desert |url=http://www.livingdesert.org/animal/mexican-milk-snake/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329033948/http://www.livingdesert.org/animal/mexican-milk-snake/ |archive-date=2016-03-29 |website=www.livingdesert.org}} </ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Observations • iNaturalist |url=https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=18&subview=map&taxon_id=515417 |access-date=2 April 2024 |website=[[iNaturalist]]}}</ref>
== Description == The Mexican milksnake has distinct [[red]], [[black]] and cream or yellow-colored banding, wrapping around the body. This coloration is likely an evolutionary survival tactic to ward off potential predators by mimicking the venomous [[coral snake]] ([[Elapidae]]), which shares much of the same habitat, leading to the species sometimes being called a coral snake-"mimic." Localities indicate "whiter", brighter creams to the west, "dirtier" creams to the east and north, and often yellow or orange further south. The underside of the species is checkered black and white, in correlation to the overhead banding, with southern localities having higher concentrations of black, and northern localities having more white.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Reptile/Mexican-Milk-Snake/Lampropeltis/triangulum-annulata.html|title = Mexican Milk Snake | Lampropeltis triangulum annulata | Reptile}}</ref>
The subspecies can be differentiated from other milksnakes due to the darker light bands, which display at the <u>very</u> lightest—a creamy yellow color at the first light band following the black head (darker cream than other subspecies), with the rest of the light banding being solid cream. The ''darkest'' light bands will display: a bright yellow or orange-yellow color following the first light band adjacent to the black head, with the rest of the light banding being a lighter hue of either yellow, cream-yellow, or orange-yellow. Other milk snake subspecies may have darker light banding depending on the individual snake, and as described, the Mexican milk snake has a much higher prevalence of this trait and other distinctive features. The light bands are typically considerably larger than the black bands and broaden/widen towards the lower sides and ventral scales from the dorsal scales. Additional distinguishing features include all localities having red bands which are especially dark and crisp compared to other subspecies, with the red being around two or three times as wide as the black bands, and the red extending from the sides to the very edge of the ventral scales.
The Mexican milk snake is short in length and large in width compared to other milk snake subspecies, given that they grow to approximately 24–30 inches (61–76 cm) in length and have more girth overall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Snake-Species/Mexican-Milk-Snake/|title = Mexican Milk Snake}}</ref> It is not venomous, contrary to the coral snake, which fairly resembles this milk snake. The coral snake's red and yellow bands are adjacent, while the milk snake's red and black bands are adjacent.
== Behavior and adaptations == Like many snakes, ''L. annulata'' tend to be [[nocturnal animal|nocturnal]] or [[crepuscular]] in lifestyle, mostly preferring to hide when the daytime temperatures are at their highest and becoming most active in the cooler periods of the day, especially from the spring to the fall. They eat primarily [[rodent]]s and [[lizard]]s; additionally, they will occasionally eat other snakes, including venomous [[Rattlesnake|rattlesnakes]] and [[Coral snake|coral snakes]] (albeit not nearly as often as the related kingsnakes), whose venom the genus ''Lampropeltis'' has (seemingly) evolved an innate resistance to. As with all lampropeltid snakes, they will eat most or all animals they can comfortably swallow, if hungry or voracious enough, including desert toads, frogs, young rabbits, and various ground-nesting birds and their chicks. Their choice of habitat is semi-arid [[Shrubland|brush]] areas with sandy soils. While these snakes are primarily nocturnal and crepuscular, as previously stated, they will also bask for short periods during the day to raise their internal temperature. If kept in captivity, they will appreciate being provided with a basking lamp set to a timer cycle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.reptilesmagazine.com/Snake-Species/Mexican-Milk-Snake/|title = Mexican Milk Snake}}</ref>
Milksnakes, like many semi-arid reptile species, have a natural resilience and adaptability due to the many unpredictable climatic conditions and environmental pressures present in their habitats, which include [[predation]], [[interspecific competition]], [[drought]] and [[Heat wave|heatwaves]], as well as seasonally-heavy [[Rain|rainstorms]] and potential [[Flash flood|flash-flooding]]. Depending on a snake's habitat's elevation and proximity to water, daytime temperatures in its range of northern Mexico and South Texas can vary, from [[Temperate climate|temperate]], albeit dry, throughout much of the year to oppressively hot in the summertime, easily reaching over 90°F (32 °C); on many days, the highs may easily reach over 100°F (37 °C) across the species' distribution. Contrastingly, winter lows can reach near-freezing, even experiencing snowfall in some areas. Snakes have evolved in response to such extremes, primarily by having a relatively slow rate of [[metabolism]] coupled with efficient [[digestion]], extracting sufficient nutrients and hydration from their prey; when water is available, most snakes will readily drink it.
Breeding occurs on rainy spring evenings, and approximately 50 days later, the female will lay 4–10 [[egg (biology)|eggs]], which will incubate for 55–60 days before hatching. Newborns are around 6–7 inches (15–17 cm) long.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.livingdesert.org/animal/mexican-milk-snake/ |title=Mexican Milk Snake - The Living Desert |website=www.livingdesert.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329033948/http://www.livingdesert.org/animal/mexican-milk-snake/ |archive-date=2016-03-29}} </ref>
== In captivity == A [[pet]] Mexican milk snake adapts well to captive care and might appeal to owners seeking a small size and interesting coloration. They are generally docile and do not bite or stink.
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q4042578}}
[[Category:Lampropeltis]] [[Category:Reptiles of Mexico]] [[Category:Snakes of North America]] [[Category:Reptiles of the United States]] [[Category:Reptiles described in 1860]] [[Category:Taxa named by Robert Kennicott]]