Californian Mountain Kingsnakes
Picture
Description 20-40" (50.8-101.6 cm). One of our most attractive snakes - ringed with black, white, and red. Resembles Sonora Mountain Kingsnake and western races of the Milk Snake. Red bands bordered by black. Snout black. White bands do not widen near belly scales. Scales smooth, in 23 rows. Anal plate single.
Subspecies Seven; 5 in our range:
St. Helena (L. z. zonata), back edge of first white ring is behind last upper lip scale, snout dark, more than 60% of red bands continuous across midline of back; Napa, Lake, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties, California. Intergrades with Sierra in n. California and sw. Oregon.
Sierra (L. z. multicincta), first white ring and snout resemble St. Helena, less than 60% of red bands continuous across back; western slopes of Sierra Nevada, Shasta County to Kern County, California.
Coast (L. z. multifasciata), like St. Helena, snout marked with red; Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties to Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, California.
San Bernardino (L. z. parvirubra), back edge of first white ring on or in front of last upper lip scale, snout dark, 37 or more groups of tricolored rings (triads) around body; San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto mountains, s. California.
San Diego (L. z. pulchra), like San Bernardino except 36 or fewer triads; mountains of San Diego County, s. California.
Breeding Clutches of 3-8 eggs deposited July; hatch in 9-10 weeks. Young about 8" (20 cm) long.
Habitat Sierra Nevada yellow pine belt, Coast Ranges chaparral, redwood forests south of San Francisco Bay; sea level to 8,000' (2,450 m).
Range Kern County, California, north along western slope of Sierra Nevada Mountains into sw. Oregon, southward in eastern portion of Coast Ranges to San Francisco Bay area; and south in mountains in scattered populations to nc. Baja California. Isolated population in sc. Washington.
Discussion Sometimes called Coral Kingsnake. Diurnal but becomes active at night during warm weather and sometimes can be seen crossing a road. Hides under rotting logs and stones near sunlit stretches of rocky streams. Eats lizards, snakes, and birds and their eggs. Record longevity exceeds 24 years.
Picture
Description 20-40" (50.8-101.6 cm). One of our most attractive snakes - ringed with black, white, and red. Resembles Sonora Mountain Kingsnake and western races of the Milk Snake. Red bands bordered by black. Snout black. White bands do not widen near belly scales. Scales smooth, in 23 rows. Anal plate single.
Subspecies Seven; 5 in our range:
St. Helena (L. z. zonata), back edge of first white ring is behind last upper lip scale, snout dark, more than 60% of red bands continuous across midline of back; Napa, Lake, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties, California. Intergrades with Sierra in n. California and sw. Oregon.
Sierra (L. z. multicincta), first white ring and snout resemble St. Helena, less than 60% of red bands continuous across back; western slopes of Sierra Nevada, Shasta County to Kern County, California.
Coast (L. z. multifasciata), like St. Helena, snout marked with red; Santa Cruz and Santa Clara counties to Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, California.
San Bernardino (L. z. parvirubra), back edge of first white ring on or in front of last upper lip scale, snout dark, 37 or more groups of tricolored rings (triads) around body; San Gabriel, San Bernardino, and San Jacinto mountains, s. California.
San Diego (L. z. pulchra), like San Bernardino except 36 or fewer triads; mountains of San Diego County, s. California.
Breeding Clutches of 3-8 eggs deposited July; hatch in 9-10 weeks. Young about 8" (20 cm) long.
Habitat Sierra Nevada yellow pine belt, Coast Ranges chaparral, redwood forests south of San Francisco Bay; sea level to 8,000' (2,450 m).
Range Kern County, California, north along western slope of Sierra Nevada Mountains into sw. Oregon, southward in eastern portion of Coast Ranges to San Francisco Bay area; and south in mountains in scattered populations to nc. Baja California. Isolated population in sc. Washington.
Discussion Sometimes called Coral Kingsnake. Diurnal but becomes active at night during warm weather and sometimes can be seen crossing a road. Hides under rotting logs and stones near sunlit stretches of rocky streams. Eats lizards, snakes, and birds and their eggs. Record longevity exceeds 24 years.
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