Kingsnakes of Louisiana

Speckled King Snake Poster by naturegirl7

There are 5 different species of Kingsnakes in Louisiana and a similar looking species, the Scarlet Snake. The photo below was found in Dundee, Harold A. and Douglas A. Rossman's, The Amphibians and Reptiles of Louisiana and shows:

A. Common Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getulus
B. Prairie Kingsnake, Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster
C. Mole Kingsnake, Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata
D. Louisiana milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum amaura
E. Scarlet Kingsnake, Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides
F. Scarlet Snake, Cemphora coccinea

The most common Kingsnake in Southeastern Louisiana, where we reside, is the Common or Speckled Kingsnake. We have had many encounters with this lovely and gentle creature and we welcome them in our habitat. Kingsnakes are constrictors, which means they wrap their bodies around their prey and squeeze until the prey is dead. One unique fact about Kingsnakes is their ability to overpower and kill poisonous snakes without succumbing to their venom.



This great photo of a Speckled Kingsnake killing and eating a venomous Copperhead was taken by Michael Roedel. Click on the photo to go to Flickr to see a larger image or on the link to view more of Michael's outstanding snake photographs.

Kingsnakes primarily eat mice and rats so they are handy to have in the garden or in the yard. If you encourage Kingsnakes to inhabit your area, the rodent population will decrease.

Kingsnakes are egg layers and lay a clutch of from 5 to 17 eggs in the spring.

Prairie King Snake by scenro

Scarlet King Snake by eaglelady1

When trying to tell the non-venomous, Scarlet King snake from the venomous, Coral Snake, always remember the childrens rhyme:
Red on yellow, kill a fellow
Red on black, come on back.

When the red stripe touches a black stripe, the snake is a king snake. When the red and yellow stripes touch, the snake is a Coral snake.

kingsnake by prawny

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National Geographic Readers: Snakes!

Juvenile Nonfiction - Readers - Beginner Juvenile Nonfiction - Animals - Reptiles & Amphibians