Speckled Kingsnake
Lampropeltis holbrooki
Class
Reptilia
Order
Squamata
Family
Colubridae
Speckled Kingsnake
Range
Central and southeastern United States
Size
Length: 35 - 48 in, occasionally up to 72 in
Habitat
Grasslands, woodlands, and open forests
Young
Clutch: 5 - 23 eggs
Diet
Rodents, lizards, turtle eggs, and other snakes
IUCN Status
Least Concern
The speckled kingsnake is sometimes referred to as the common kingsnake.
It is a moderately large snake with smooth scales and a background color of black.
Adult Coloration
Each scale has an irregular yellow marking that varies in size and shape giving the snake an overall speckled appearance. The belly is highly variable, but is usually black often with irregular yellow to cream-colored markings.
Juvenile Coloration
Juveniles, and some adults appear blotched because the density of yellow markings on dorsal scales is distributed such that a series of black blotches are evident along the top of the body.
Unique Diet
The name kingsnake was given because some members of this group of snakes are known to eat other snakes, even venomous ones. The speckled kingsnake will occasionally prey on other reptiles, but the majority of its diet is mice and rats.