The speckled kingsnake usually grows up to 48 in (120 cm) in total length (including tail), but the record total length is 72 in (180 cm). The common name is derived from its pattern, which is black, with small yellow-white specks, one speck in the center of almost every dorsal scale. It is also known as the "salt-and-pepper snake".[3]
The speckled kingsnake prefers wetter habitats than other kingsnakes, such as swamps and rivers, but it does commonly venture to dry areas such as woodlands and grassy fields.[citation needed]
When threatened, the speckled kingsnake shakes its tail like a rattlesnake to deter predators. It frequently expels musk and feces or bites when threatened. It is usually docile, often striking only one or two times after capture, and is frequently kept as a pet. It is commonly captive bred.[citation needed]
Taxonomy and etymologyedit
The speckled kingsnake was first described by American herpetologist John Edwards Holbrook in 1842. At that time, he called it Coronella sayi under the mistaken impression that it was the species previously described by Schlegel as Coluber sayi. In 1902, Stejneger pointed out that because Coluber sayi is a different snake, Pituophis catenifer sayi, the name sayi could not be applied to this snake. Therefore, he proposed the name Lampropeltis holbrooki, honoring Holbrook.[5][6] It was for many years considered a subspecies of L. getula, but has been elevated to full species status as L. holbrooki.[2]
Referencesedit
^Hammerson GA (2019). "Lampropeltis holbrooki ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T67662914A67662925. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T67662914A67662925.en. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
^ abSpecies Lampropeltis holbrooki at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
^Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1-48. ISBN0-395-19979-4 (hardcover), ISBN0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki, pp. 203-204 + Plate 29 + Map 156).
^Blanchard FN (1921). "A Revision of the King Snakes: Genus Lampropeltis ". Bulletin of the United States National Museum (114): 1-260.
^Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Lampropeltis getula holbrooki, p. 125).
Further readingedit
Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. ISBN0-394-50824-6. (Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki, p. 619 + Plate 560).
Conant R, Bridges W (1939). What Snake Is That?: A Field Guide to the Snakes of the United States East of the Rocky Mountains. (With 108 drawings by Edmond Malnate). New York and London: D. Appleton-Century. Frontispiece map + viii + 163 pp. + Plates A–C, 1–32. (Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki, pp. 77–78 + Plate12, Figure 35).
Holbrook JE (1842). North American Herpetology; or, A Description of the Reptiles Inhabiting the United States. Vol. III. [Second Edition]. Philadelphia: J. Dobson. 128 pp. + 30 plates. (Coronella sayi, pp. 99–101 + Plate 22).
Hubbs B (2009). Common Kingsnakes: A Natural History of Lampropeltis getula. Tempe, Arizona: Tricolor Books. 436 pp. ISBN978-0-9754641-1-3.
Schmidt KP, Davis DD (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki, pp. 176–177, Figure 50 + Plate 19).
Stejneger L (1902). "The Reptiles of the Huachuca Mountains, Arizona". Proceedings of the United States National Museum25: 149–158. (Lampropeltis holbrooki, new name, p. 152).
Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Ithaca and London: Comstock Publishing Associates, a division of Cornell University Press. 1,105 pp. (in two volumes). (Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki, pp. 387–391, Figure 118 + Map 33 on p. 373).
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lampropeltis holbrooki.
Wikispecies has information related to Speckled kingsnake.
Lamproletis getula. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Speckled Kingsnake. Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa.
April 26, 2024
speckled, kingsnake, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, march,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Speckled kingsnake news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2024 Learn how and when to remove this template message The speckled kingsnake Lampropeltis holbrooki is a species of nonvenomous kingsnake in the family Colubridae The species is endemic to the United States Lampropeltis holbrooki Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Colubridae Genus Lampropeltis Species L holbrooki Binomial name Lampropeltis holbrookiStejneger 1902 Synonyms 2 Coronella sayi Holbrook 1842 Lampropeltis holbrooki Stejneger 1902 Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki M Allen 1932 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki Crother 2000 Lampropeltis holbrooki Pyron amp Burbrink 2009 Contents 1 Description 2 Geographic range 3 Habitat 4 Diet 5 Behavior 6 Taxonomy and etymology 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External linksDescription edit nbsp Adult in Mississippi The speckled kingsnake usually grows up to 48 in 120 cm in total length including tail but the record total length is 72 in 180 cm The common name is derived from its pattern which is black with small yellow white specks one speck in the center of almost every dorsal scale It is also known as the salt and pepper snake 3 Geographic range editThe speckled kingsnake is found in the central and southern United States from southern Iowa to the Gulf of Mexico 4 Its range overlaps that of the desert kingsnake Lampropeltis splendida and it is known to intergrade with that species citation needed Habitat editThe speckled kingsnake prefers wetter habitats than other kingsnakes such as swamps and rivers but it does commonly venture to dry areas such as woodlands and grassy fields citation needed Diet editThe diet of the speckled kingsnake consists of mammals birds rodents frogs lizards and other snakes It kills by constriction citation needed Behavior editWhen threatened the speckled kingsnake shakes its tail like a rattlesnake to deter predators It frequently expels musk and feces or bites when threatened It is usually docile often striking only one or two times after capture and is frequently kept as a pet It is commonly captive bred citation needed Taxonomy and etymology editThe speckled kingsnake was first described by American herpetologist John Edwards Holbrook in 1842 At that time he called it Coronella sayi under the mistaken impression that it was the species previously described by Schlegel as Coluber sayi In 1902 Stejneger pointed out that because Coluber sayi is a different snake Pituophis catenifer sayi the name sayi could not be applied to this snake Therefore he proposed the name Lampropeltis holbrooki honoring Holbrook 5 6 It was for many years considered a subspecies of L getula but has been elevated to full species status as L holbrooki 2 References edit Hammerson GA 2019 Lampropeltis holbrooki IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019 e T67662914A67662925 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2019 2 RLTS T67662914A67662925 en Retrieved 20 May 2023 a b Species Lampropeltis holbrooki at The Reptile Database www reptile database org Conant R 1975 A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America Second Edition Boston Houghton Mifflin xviii 429 pp Plates 1 48 ISBN 0 395 19979 4 hardcover ISBN 0 395 19977 8 paperback Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki pp 203 204 Plate 29 Map 156 Speckled Kingsnake Kingsnake com Retrieved 2009 03 16 Blanchard FN 1921 A Revision of the King Snakes Genus Lampropeltis Bulletin of the United States National Museum 114 1 260 Beolens B Watkins M Grayson M 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki p 125 Further reading editBehler JL King FW 1979 The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians New York Alfred A Knopf 743 pp ISBN 0 394 50824 6 Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki p 619 Plate 560 Conant R Bridges W 1939 What Snake Is That A Field Guide to the Snakes of the United States East of the Rocky Mountains With 108 drawings by Edmond Malnate New York and London D Appleton Century Frontispiece map viii 163 pp Plates A C 1 32 Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki pp 77 78 Plate12 Figure 35 Holbrook JE 1842 North American Herpetology or A Description of the Reptiles Inhabiting the United States Vol III Second Edition Philadelphia J Dobson 128 pp 30 plates Coronella sayi pp 99 101 Plate 22 Hubbs B 2009 Common Kingsnakes A Natural History of Lampropeltis getula Tempe Arizona Tricolor Books 436 pp ISBN 978 0 9754641 1 3 Schmidt KP Davis DD 1941 Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada New York G P Putnam s Sons 365 pp Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki pp 176 177 Figure 50 Plate 19 Stejneger L 1902 The Reptiles of the Huachuca Mountains Arizona Proceedings of the United States National Museum 25 149 158 Lampropeltis holbrooki new name p 152 Wright AH Wright AA 1957 Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada Ithaca and London Comstock Publishing Associates a division of Cornell University Press 1 105 pp in two volumes Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki pp 387 391 Figure 118 Map 33 on p 373 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lampropeltis holbrooki nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Speckled kingsnake Lamproletis getula The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Speckled Kingsnake Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Speckled kingsnake amp oldid 1214975741, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
