Black Milk Snake
Lampropeltis triangulum gaigeae
A milk snake subspecies notable for becoming almost entirely glossy black as it matures, losing its juvenile banded pattern.
- Venomous?
- Non-venomous
- Adult length
- 1.0-1.5 m (3.3-5 ft)
- Range
- Highlands of Costa Rica and Panama
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Overview
The Black Milk Snake is unusual among milk snake subspecies in that adults typically lose their banded juvenile pattern, becoming almost uniformly black and glossy. It occurs in the mountainous highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama.
Juveniles display the typical tricolor banding of milk snakes, but this pattern darkens and fades as the snake matures into adulthood.
How to identify it
- Juveniles show red, black, and white/yellow tricolor bands
- Adults become almost entirely glossy black, with pattern barely visible or absent
- Smooth scales with a strong sheen
- Small, rounded head not distinct from the neck, round pupils
- Look-alikes: other dark colubrids and melanistic snakes; smooth scales and head shape assist identification
Habitat & range
Found in humid montane forests and highlands of Costa Rica and Panama, sheltering under logs, leaf litter, and forest debris. It favors cool, moist, forested environments at elevation.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Primarily nocturnal, hunting at night in leaf litter and ground cover. A constrictor, it feeds on small mammals, lizards, and other snakes. Reproduction is oviparous, with eggs laid in humid, hidden sites.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Black Milk Snake venomous?
No, it is non-venomous.
Do adults look the same as juveniles?
No, juveniles are boldly banded but adults typically darken to a nearly solid glossy black.
Where is it found?
In the highlands of Costa Rica and western Panama.
What does it eat?
Small mammals, lizards, and other snakes.
Black Milk Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Black Milk Snake.
