Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri, currently known as lampropeltis leonis, or Nuevo León kingsnake, variable kingsnake, or Thayer's kingsnake, is a nonvenomous snake belonging to the family Colubridae.[2][3] Thayer's kingsnake is a subspecies of the mexicana group of the genus Lampropeltis.[2] Thayer's kingsnake is endemic to the eastern slopes of the Mexican plateaus in Tamaulipas, Mexico.[2] Thayer's kingsnake is known for producing offspring typically displaying three[a] main variable phases within the same clutch from similar-coloured patterned parents.[4][2][5]
Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri in the melanistic phase
Thayer's kingsnake is found on the eastern slopes of the Mexican plateaus in Tamaulipas, Mexico.[2]
Behavioredit
The behaviour of Thayer's kingsnake is similar to many of the other kingsnake species. Thayer's kingsnake is typically non-aggressive[2] and reclusive and does well in captivity. Thayer's kingsnake requires a hiding place at all times and often prefers to hide in such.[2]
Dietedit
Thayer's kingsnake kills its prey by constriction and prefers a diet of lizards in the wild although they have been known to feed on rodents, frogs and other snakes.[2] In captivity, Thayer's kingsnakes can be weaned onto rodents as their main food source.
Reproductionedit
Thayer's kingsnakes are oviparous typically laying between six–14 eggs up to twice per year.[7] Like many other colubrids, Thayer's kingsnakes usually mate in early spring following a winter cooling period.
Notesedit
^The fourth phase, "melanistic" or "black", is uncommon but may appear in a clutch.[4]
Referencesedit
^Lampropeltis mexicana at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 12 October 2013.
^ abcdefghCherry, John. "Thayer's Kingsnake". kingsnake.com. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
^Wrobel, Murray (2004). Elsevier's Dictionary of Reptiles. Elsevier, 2004. p. 758. ISBN9780080459202.
^ abWallis, Andrew. "The Thayer's or Variable kingsnake", Blue Lizard Reptiles. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
^Applegate, Bob. . Applegate Reptiles. Archived from the original on 1 November 2000. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
^Gehlbach, Frederick R. (1967). "Lampropeltis mexicana". (PDF). pp. 55.1–55.2. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^Wallis, Andrew. "The Thayer's or Variable kingsnake". Retrieved 6 October 2013.
February 15, 2024
lampropeltis, mexicana, thayeri, currently, known, lampropeltis, leonis, nuevo, león, kingsnake, variable, kingsnake, thayer, kingsnake, nonvenomous, snake, belonging, family, colubridae, thayer, kingsnake, subspecies, mexicana, group, genus, lampropeltis, tha. Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri currently known as lampropeltis leonis or Nuevo Leon kingsnake variable kingsnake or Thayer s kingsnake is a nonvenomous snake belonging to the family Colubridae 2 3 Thayer s kingsnake is a subspecies of the mexicana group of the genus Lampropeltis 2 Thayer s kingsnake is endemic to the eastern slopes of the Mexican plateaus in Tamaulipas Mexico 2 Thayer s kingsnake is known for producing offspring typically displaying three a main variable phases within the same clutch from similar coloured patterned parents 4 2 5 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeriLampropeltis mexicana thayeri in the melanistic phaseScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ColubridaeGenus LampropeltisSpecies L mexicanaSubspecies L m thayeriTrinomial nameLampropeltis mexicana thayeriLoveridge 1924 1 Contents 1 Appearance 2 Range 3 Behavior 4 Diet 5 Reproduction 6 Notes 7 ReferencesAppearance editThe dorsal body scales of Thayer s kingsnake are primarily either red and black or solid black although their scale color patterns are highly variable 6 Range editThayer s kingsnake is found on the eastern slopes of the Mexican plateaus in Tamaulipas Mexico 2 Behavior editThe behaviour of Thayer s kingsnake is similar to many of the other kingsnake species Thayer s kingsnake is typically non aggressive 2 and reclusive and does well in captivity Thayer s kingsnake requires a hiding place at all times and often prefers to hide in such 2 Diet editThayer s kingsnake kills its prey by constriction and prefers a diet of lizards in the wild although they have been known to feed on rodents frogs and other snakes 2 In captivity Thayer s kingsnakes can be weaned onto rodents as their main food source Reproduction editThayer s kingsnakes are oviparous typically laying between six 14 eggs up to twice per year 7 Like many other colubrids Thayer s kingsnakes usually mate in early spring following a winter cooling period Notes edit The fourth phase melanistic or black is uncommon but may appear in a clutch 4 References edit Lampropeltis mexicana at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Accessed 12 October 2013 a b c d e f g h Cherry John Thayer s Kingsnake kingsnake com Retrieved February 21 2020 Wrobel Murray 2004 Elsevier s Dictionary of Reptiles Elsevier 2004 p 758 ISBN 9780080459202 a b Wallis Andrew The Thayer s or Variable kingsnake Blue Lizard Reptiles Retrieved February 21 2020 Applegate Bob Thayer s Kingsnake Applegate Reptiles Archived from the original on 1 November 2000 Retrieved February 21 2020 Gehlbach Frederick R 1967 Lampropeltis mexicana Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles PDF pp 55 1 55 2 Archived from the original on 18 December 2022 Retrieved 18 December 2022 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Wallis Andrew The Thayer s or Variable kingsnake Retrieved 6 October 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri amp oldid 1141675157, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
