Common kingsnake, Chain kingsnake, Kingsnake, Carolina kingsnake, Chain snake, Bastard horn snake, Black kingsnake, Black moccasin
The Eastern kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) is a harmless colubrid snake native to the United States and Mexico. It has nine recognized subspecies and has long been a favorite among collectors.
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DiurnalDiurnal animals are active during the daytime, with a period of sleeping or other inactivity at night. The timing of activity by an animal depends ...
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CarnivoreA carnivore meaning 'meat eater' is an organism that derives its energy and nutrient requirements from a diet consisting mainly or exclusively of a...
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
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PrecocialPrecocial species are those in which the young are relatively mature and mobile from the moment of birth or hatching. Precocial species are normall...
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OviparousOviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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PredatorPredators are animals that kill and eat other organisms, their prey. Predators may actively search for or pursue prey or wait for it, often conceal...
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PolygynandryPolygynandry is a mating system in which both males and females have multiple mating partners during a breeding season.
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Non-venomousSo
SolitaryHi
HibernatingHibernation is a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression undergone by some animal species. Hibernation is a seasonal heterothermy charac...
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Not a migrantAnimals that do not make seasonal movements and stay in their native home ranges all year round are called not migrants or residents.
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starts withThe color pattern of these snakes 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 plain have wider bands, while those found in mountainous areas have thinner bands or may be completely black.
Eastern kingsnakes are found in the United States and Mexico. In the United States, they occur in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. These snakes prefer to live in 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.
Eastern kingsnakes are solitary and diurnal reptiles. They spend their days hunting, traveling, basking, or resting under leaf litter. During hot summer days, they may switch to nocturnal activity. These snakes live on the ground but may also climb trees and swim if needed. During the winter they hibernate in caves or rock crevices, abandoned burrows of other mammals, or in hollow logs. Eastern kingsnakes can eat venomous snakes. They have developed a hunting technique in which they avoid being bitten by clamping down on the jaws of the venomous prey; however, even if bitten, they are immune to the venom. Eastern kingsnakes have many predators and they have developed various defensive techniques. When threatened they hiss and vibrate their tail to mimic rattlesnakes. They may also roll into a ball hiding their head in the coils and play dead, producing a foul-smelling musk or strike.
These are carnivorous reptiles. They eat other snakes, including venomous snakes but also amphibians, turtle eggs, lizards, and small mammals.
Eastern kingsnakes have a polygynandrous (promiscuous) mating system in which both males and females have multiple partners. They breed from March to August and during this time males compete with each other for females. Females may produce more than one clutch in a single breeding season which consists of 4 to 20 eggs. The eggs are usually laid in an abandoned burrow, moist soil, or under a log where they are incubated for around 60 days. After that, the female leaves her clutch and never returns back. Baby kingsnakes are born well-developed; they are brightly colored and weigh around 9-14 grams. Females usually become reproductively mature at 2-4 years of age while males attain maturity and are ready to mate when they are 1-4 years old.
Eastern kingsnakes don't face any major threats at present. However, they are a favorite among collectors and the extensive pet trade may influence some populations. In some areas of their range, these snakes also suffer from habitat loss due to intensive urbanization and agricultural development. They are also often killed because of fear.
The IUCN Red List and other sources don’t provide the number of the Eastern kingsnake total population size. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.
Eastern kingsnakes are very important for their ecosystem as due to their diet habits they help keep populations of their prey species in balance including rodents, frogs, and venomous snakes. Eastern kingsnakes are also prey for larger snakes and other local predators.