Biology:Lampropeltis getula

Short description: Species of snake

Eastern kingsnake
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Lampropeltis
Species:	L. getula
Binomial name
Lampropeltis getula (Linnaeus, 1766)
Synonyms
Coluber getulus Linnaeus, 1766 Ophibolus getulus — Baird & Girard, 1853 Coronella Getulus — A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 Ophibolus getulus — Cope, 1875 Ophilobus [sic] getulus — Cope, 1892 (ex errore) Coronella getula — Boulenger, 1894 Triaeniopholis arenarius F. Werner, 1924 Lampropeltis getula goini Neill & Allen, 1949 Lampropeltis getula — Stebbins, 1985 Lampropeltis getula — Conant & Collins, 1991 Lampropeltis getula — Liner, 1994

Lampropeltis getula, commonly known as the eastern kingsnake, common kingsnake, or chain kingsnake, is a harmless colubrid species endemic to the United States and Mexico. It has long been a favorite among collectors. Nine subspecies are currently recognized, including the nominate subspecies described here.

Description

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

Florida kingsnake in Dixie County, Florida

Adult specimens of the speckled kingsnake, L. g. holbrooki, are the smallest race at 91.5 cm (36.0 in) in snout-to-vent length (SVL) on average, while L. g. getula is the largest at 107 cm (42 in) SVL on average. Specimens up to 208.2 cm (82.0 in) in total length (including tail) have been recorded. Weight can vary from 285 g (10.1 oz) in a small specimen of 87.2 cm (34.3 in) in total length, to 2,268 g (80.0 oz) in large specimens, of over 153 cm (60 in) in total length.

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. Kingsnakes from the coastal plains have wider bands, while those found in mountainous areas have thinner bands or may be completely black.

Common names

Common names for L. getula include eastern kingsnake, common kingsnake, chain kingsnake, kingsnake, Carolina kingsnake, chain snake, bastard horn snake, black kingsnake, black moccasin, common chain snake, cow sucker, eastern kingsnake, horse racer, master snake, North American kingsnake, oakleaf rattler, pied snake, pine snake, racer, rattlesnake pilot, thunder-and-lightning snake, thunderbolt, thunder snake, wamper, wampum snake.

Geographic range

L. getula is found in the United States in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California , portions of Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, south and southwest Illinois, southern Indiana , southern Iowa, Kansas , Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, southern and western Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, southern Ohio, Oklahoma, southern Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee , Texas , southern Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia. It is also found in northern Mexico, including all of Baja California. It has been introduced to Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands, where in 2014, the population had reached an estimated 20,000 individuals.

Habitat

The preferred habitats of L. getula are open areas, particularly grassland, but also chaparral, oak woodland, abandoned farms, desert, low mountains, sand, and any type of riparian zone, including swamps, canals, and streams. A study on the habitat use of the Eastern Kingsnake found that overall they prefer and can be found in sites with thick layer of leaf litter and dense shrubbery. From their observations throughout the course of research, they found that 79% of their tracked specimen spent the majority of their time concealed under the cover of soil and leaf litter.

Although commonly described as diurnal, some reports suggest that the Eastern Kingsnake are crepuscular or nocturnal during the hottest parts of the year. They will often retreat into rodent burrows as nocturnal retreats.

It has been found that Eastern Kingsnake home ranges often show little-to-no overlap.

Some studies show that Eastern Kingsnakes (L. g. getula), especially males, are territorial, and will engage invading snakes in combat if their territory is threatened.

Diet

L. getula eats other snakes, including venomous snakes such as copperheads (Agkistrodon contortrix), which are responsible for more venomous snakebites than any other in the United States, as well as coral snakes (Micruroides and Micrurus), massasaugas (Sistrurus catenatus), and other rattlesnakes (Crotalus and Sistrurus). Among the non-venomous snakes preyed upon include common garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis), common watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon), ring-necked snakes (Diadophis punctatus), smooth earth snakes (Virginia valeriae), and worm snakes (Carphophis amoenus).

It has developed a hunting technique to avoid being bitten by clamping down on the jaws of the venomous prey, but even if envenomated, it is immune. It also eats amphibians, turtle eggs, bird eggs (including those of the northern bobwhite [Colinus virginianus]), lizards (such as five-lined skinks [Plestiodon fasciatus]), and small mammals (such as white-footed mice [Peromyscus leucopus]), which it kills by constriction.

Due to their diet of eating other snake species, kingsnakes are a key factor in the spread of ophidiomycosis. This is a relatively new snake fungal disease originating from the fungus, Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. This disease has a variety of impacts on snakes and the extent of this impact is still being researched.

Reproduction

L. getula is oviparous. Adult females lay up to several dozen eggs that hatch after 2.0-2.5 months of incubation. Hatchlings are brightly colored and feed on small snakes, lizards, and rodents. Eastern Kingsnakes (L. g. getula) are active from April–October in most parts of their habitat range and breeding occurs in the spring months. Neck-biting is a common behavior when mating.

In captivity

Long a favorite among collectors, L. getula does well in captivity, living to 25 years or more. Some of the most popular subspecies of the common kingsnake kept in captivity are the California, Brooks', Florida, and Mexican black kingsnakes.

Subspecies

Subspecies	Authority	Common name	range
L. g. brooksi	Barbour, 1919	Brooks's kingsnake
L. g. floridana	Blanchard, 1919	Florida kingsnake
L. g. getula	(Linnaeus, 1766)	eastern kingsnake
L. g. nigrita	Zweifel & Norris, 1955	Mexican black kingsnake
L. g. meansi	Krysko & Judd, 2006	Apalachicola Lowlands kingsnake	the Apalachicola Lowlands, Florida

Further reading

• Hubbs B (2009). Common Kingsnakes: A Natural History of Lampropeltis getula. Tempe, Arizona: Tricolor Books. 436 pp. ISBN:978-0975464113.
• Linnaeus C (1766). Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio Duodecima, Reformata. Stockholm: L. Salvius. 532 pp. (Coluber getulus, new species, p. 382). (in Latin).
• Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp. ISBN:978-0-544-12997-9. (Lampropeltis getula, p. 379 + Plate 34).
• Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN:0-307-13666-3 (paperback), ISBN: 0-307-47009-1 (hardcover). (Lampropeltis getula, pp. 180–181).
• Stebbins RC (2003). A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Third Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Company. xiii + 533 pp. ISBN:978-0-395-98272-3. (Lampropeltis getula, pp. 364–366 + Plate 44 + Map 153).

External links

• Lampropeltis getula at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed July 14, 2008 {{{year}}}.
• Eastern Kingsnake at the Florida Museum of Natural History. Accessed June 29, 2008.

Wikidata ☰ Q747093 entry