Kingsnakes of Louisiana

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Beautiful and Beneficial Kingsnakes

Since we were children we have welcomed the gentle, non-poisonous Kingsnakes into our yard. Kingsnakes are constrictors that live in many types of habitat, but seem to prefer ridges and levees that border wet areas.

They will kill and eat poisonous snakes, but their most common prey is mice and rats. This is a very beneficial snake and is a friend of the farmers and gardeners alike. Kingsnakes should be prized and protected from harm because, like other snakes, they are an important link in the food chain. We hope that this lens will encourage many people to welcome this beautiful creature into their habitat.

Louisiana Kingsnakes 

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

kingsnakes of Louisiana


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. In the photo module below you will see a Speckled Kingsnake eating a Copperhead. 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.

Kingsnake Photos 

kingsnake by slider5

Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Mississippi

Speckled Kingsnake Facts from Wiki 

:Common name: speckled kingsnake

Lampropeltis getula holbrooki is a non-venomous species of kingsnake found in the central to southern United States from southern Iowa to the Gulf of Mexico. Their range overlaps with the desert kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula splendida and it is known to intergrade with that species. They prefer wetter habitats than other kingsnake species.

Speckled Kingsnake Video 

Herping With Dylan: Speckled Kingsnake

A truly awesome snake to find. After seeing several dead Speckled Kingsnakes on that road I was dieing to find a live one. This is one of my favorite reptiles in this area, and I was really hoping to find one that day.

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Common Kingsnakes 

Common Kingsnakes (Advanced Vivarium Systems)

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Prairie Kingsnake Facts from Wiki 

Lampropeltis calligaster is a species of kingsnake known commonly as the prairie kingsnake or mole kingsnake. It is found throughout the midwestern and southeastern United States, from Nebraska to Virginia, Florida to Texas.

Kingsnakes: Care and Breeding 

Kingsnakes: Care & Breeding in Captivity

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Scarlet Kingsnake Facts from Wiki 

The Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides) is a type of king snake that is found in the Eastern portion of the United States, particularly Florida. It is a subspecies of the milk snake Lampropeltis triangulum. They are found in pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, prairies, cultivated fields, and suburban areas. It is significantly smaller than some of the other king snakes, usually well under 20 inches long. The maximum recorded length was 68.5cm (27 inches). Neonates (newborns) can be as small as 3 and a half inches.

The snake has a tri-color pattern of black, red, and yellow bands that mimic the venomous coral snake. A method to help differentiate between venomous and non venomous tri-color snakes in North America is found in the popular phrases "red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black venom lack" or "If red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow; if red touches black, you're alright, Jack", or as taught to Boy Scouts: "Red on yellow kill a fellow. Red on black, friend of Jack".

Juvenile specimens of this snake usually have the same colours as adults, but often have rings that look more "off white" than yellow. As they become mature, their rings turn more yellow.

Scarlet kingsnakes spend a lot of their time hiding under cover. Loose bark on rotting pine trees is a favorite place for them to hide. It is in these places that they find a steady supply of one of their favorite foods, skinks.

They eat small animals, eggs and other reptiles including lizards and other snakes.

Many people have these as pets as they are easy to look after.

It is thought to intergrade with the Eastern Milksnake to make an intermediate form once named the coastal plains milk snake (Latin: Lampropeltis triangulum temporalis), but this is no longer recognized as a legitimate subspecies.

Snakes of N. A. Field Guide 

Milk Snake Facts from Wiki 

The Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum; French: Couleuvre tachetée; Spanish: Culebra-real coralillo) is a species of king snake. There are 25 subspecies among the milk snakes, including the commonly named scarlet kingsnake (L. t. elapsoides). The subspecies have strikingly different appearance, and many of them have their own common names. Some authorities suggest that this species may be split into several separate species. They are distributed from southeastern Canada, through most of the continental United States, to Central America, down to western Ecuador and northern Venezuela of northern South America. They grow long.

Kingsnake Postage 

Kingsnakes and Milk Snakes in Captivity 

Kingsnakes & Milksnakes in Captivity (Professional Breeders Series)

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Scarlet Snake Facts from Wiki 

Cemaphora coccinea is a non-venomous species of colubrid snake commonly known as a scarlet snake. It is the only member of its genus. They are native to the southeastern United States. There are three subspecies of C. coccinea.

 

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Speckled Kingsnake on Zazzle 

See more designs at Naturally Native Creations on Zazzle.

Kingsnake Hat hat Kingsnake T-Shirt shirt Speckled King Snake Postage stamp Speckled King Snake Magnet magnet Kingsnake Sunset skateboard

Other Snakey Lenses 

 

 

 

Kingsnake Blog Posts 

Pink Cupcakes, Rainbows and King Snakes « Fear & Parenting in Las ...
Pink Cupcakes, Rainbows and King Snakes. Posted on July 2, 2009 by fearandparentinginlasvegas. Boo in my bed. I didn't think it would start so soon. But, then again, the girl is exceptionally smart and does everything sooner than I ...
lamb paul king snakes live at the 100 club
Artist LAMB PAUL KING SNAKES Title LIVE AT THE 100 CLUB UPC# 021823608327 Release Date 02/15/2005 Media Format CD Track Listing. Mad About My Baby; No Glue in the World; Livin My Life Without Her; More Than Alright; Whitehills Walk ...
Breeders Notebook: California Kingsnakes
California Kingsnakes. The first pair of California Kingsnakes has been put together (introduced 2/7/08) and mating was observed the following day. The pair has been left together, it has been a week. Posted by Adam at 9:38 AM ...
Entertainment at the Arc
One of Europe's foremost blues harmonica exponents, Paul Lamb has won countless awards, sold record-breaking quantities of albums and performed the world over with his long-standing musical compatriots, The King Snakes. ...

Scribble a line to us. 

awelldressedbullet wrote...

Ewwwwww, sorry I so hate snakes, they just totally creep me out, but wait, I love your lens! - Kathy

ReplyPosted December 23, 2008

ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...

Welcome to the Totally Awesome Lenses Group.
Lizzy

ReplyPosted October 25, 2008

ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...

Now this snake I've never seen. I'm more familiar with the rattlers of the midwest.
Very informative lens.
Lizzy

ReplyPosted October 25, 2008

Evelyn_Saenz wrote...

The Alligators int eh Swamp have their eyes on you and for such a delicious lens they are sending you virtual rats and mice to fatten you up.

5 Stars and favored!

ReplyPosted September 07, 2008