Eastern Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Lampropeltis, Species: L. getula
Found primarily in the southeastern and eastern United States, ranging from New Jersey south to Florida, and west to southeastern Nebraska, eastern Texas, and parts of Louisiana and Mississippi.
Look up Eastern Kingsnake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Lampropeltis, Species: L. getula
Conservation
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Main threats include habitat loss due to agricultural and urban development, as well as road mortality.
Physical Description
Features a glossy black or dark brown body marked with narrow, yellowish or white chain-like crossbands that form a distinctive chain pattern along the back. The head is relatively narrow and continuous with the neck, scales are smooth and shiny.
Size & Dimensions
The pictured specimen appears to be an adult approximately 3.5 feet long. Typical adult length ranges from 90 to 120 cm (35 to 47 inches), with maximum recorded lengths exceeding 180 cm (70 inches).
Habitat
Inhabits a wide variety of habitats including pine flatwoods, swamps, marshes, agricultural fields, forests, and suburban areas. Often found near water sources like streams, ponds, and drainage ditches.
Diet & Feeding
An opportunistic carnivore that preys on a wide variety of vertebrates, including rodents, birds, lizards, eggs, and other snakes (including large species). It subdues prey primarily through constriction.
Reproduction
Oviparous species that typically breeds in the spring (May to June). Females lay clutches of 3 to 30 eggs, usually in decaying vegetation or underground burrows, which hatch after approximately two months.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List status is Least Concern. Main threats include habitat loss due to agricultural and urban development, as well as road mortality.
Cultural Significance
Frequently encountered by humans in suburban areas and appreciated for its role in controlling rodent populations and subduing other snakes.
Notable Features
Known for successfully preying upon pit vipers found within its geographic range.