Unlike many of the other Mexican kingsnakes,L. ruthveni has a fairly consistent coloration, consisting of white stripes on red, bordered by black. The red is always very vivid, and the black banding is relatively thick compared to that of the other Mexican kingsnakes. The body can be up to 127 cm long and has a ventral scale count of 182-195 ventral scales. The head is distinct from the neck, and the eyes are distinct from the head, with the eyes having a golden-brown coloration. [5]
Distribution and Habitat
L. ruthveni is found in the Mexican states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Querétaro. It occurs in pine-oak forest and Mesquite grassland, in both semi-humid and arid environments. The species is also known to be plentiful in rocky areas adjacent to crop fields. Elevation ranges from 1,925m to 2,667m. [5]
Diet
In the wild, L. ruthveni is known to predate on rodents, lizards, and other snakes.[citation needed]
Reproduction
L. ruthveni is oviparous, typically laying 6-10 eggs in a clutch.[3]
Conservation
It is a common species but its abundance is decreasing. It is collected for the international pet trade (sometimes illegally), and also habitat loss (deforestation) is a threat.[1] Its preference for steep rocky hillsides is believed to protect some populations from encroaching agriculture, but the range as a whole is extremely fragmented. [5]
Captivity
L. ruthveni has a fairly stable captive population, with little collection from wild snakes. The albino morph is especially popular amongst captive breeders.[citation needed]
References
^ abcdPonce-Campos, P.; Flores-Villela, O. (2007). "Lampropeltis ruthveni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T63832A12720383. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63832A12720383.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^Blanchard FN (1920). "A Synopsis of the King Snakes: Genus Lampropeltis Fitzinger". Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (87): 1-7.
^ abcdLampropeltis ruthveni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 September 2015.
^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 ruthveni, p. 230).
^ abcdHanson, Robert; Salmon, Gerard (30 December 2017). "Distribution analysis, taxonomic updates, and conservation status of the Lampropeltis mexicana group" (PDF). Mesoamerican Herpetology. 4 (4): 700–758.
Further reading
Blanchard FN (1920). "Three New Snakes of the Genus Lampropeltis ". Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool., Univ. Michigan (81): 1–10. (Lampropeltis ruthveni, new species, pp. 8–10 + Plate I, figure 2).
Heimes P (2016). Snakes of Mexico: Herpetofauna Mexicana Vol. I. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Chimaira. 572 pp. ISBN978-3899731002.
Hubbs B (2004). A Collective Natural History of California, Sonoran, Durango, and Queretaro Mountain Kingsnakes. Tempe, Arizona: Tricolor Books. 370 pp. ISBN978--0-9754641-0-6.
This colubrid snake article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
lampropeltis, ruthveni, common, name, ruthven, kingsnake, species, kingsnake, family, colubridae, species, described, frank, blanchard, 1920, named, after, american, herpetologist, alexander, grant, ruthven, endemic, mexico, conservation, statusnear, threatene. Lampropeltis ruthveni common name Ruthven s kingsnake is a species of kingsnake in the family Colubridae 1 3 The species was described by Frank N Blanchard in 1920 and named after American herpetologist Alexander Grant Ruthven 3 4 It is endemic to Mexico 1 3 5 Lampropeltis ruthveniConservation statusNear Threatened IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ColubridaeGenus LampropeltisSpecies L ruthveniBinomial nameLampropeltis ruthveniBlanchard 1920 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and Habitat 3 Diet 4 Reproduction 5 Conservation 6 Captivity 7 References 8 Further readingDescription EditUnlike many of the other Mexican kingsnakes L ruthveni has a fairly consistent coloration consisting of white stripes on red bordered by black The red is always very vivid and the black banding is relatively thick compared to that of the other Mexican kingsnakes The body can be up to 127 cm long and has a ventral scale count of 182 195 ventral scales The head is distinct from the neck and the eyes are distinct from the head with the eyes having a golden brown coloration 5 Distribution and Habitat EditL ruthveni is found in the Mexican states of Guanajuato Hidalgo Jalisco Michoacan and Queretaro It occurs in pine oak forest and Mesquite grassland in both semi humid and arid environments The species is also known to be plentiful in rocky areas adjacent to crop fields Elevation ranges from 1 925m to 2 667m 5 Diet EditIn the wild L ruthveni is known to predate on rodents lizards and other snakes citation needed Reproduction EditL ruthveni is oviparous typically laying 6 10 eggs in a clutch 3 Conservation EditIt is a common species but its abundance is decreasing It is collected for the international pet trade sometimes illegally and also habitat loss deforestation is a threat 1 Its preference for steep rocky hillsides is believed to protect some populations from encroaching agriculture but the range as a whole is extremely fragmented 5 Captivity EditL ruthveni has a fairly stable captive population with little collection from wild snakes The albino morph is especially popular amongst captive breeders citation needed References Edit a b c d Ponce Campos P Flores Villela O 2007 Lampropeltis ruthveni IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2007 e T63832A12720383 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2007 RLTS T63832A12720383 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 Blanchard FN 1920 A Synopsis of the King Snakes Genus Lampropeltis Fitzinger Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology University of Michigan 87 1 7 a b c d Lampropeltis ruthveni at the Reptarium cz Reptile Database Accessed 2 September 2015 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 ruthveni p 230 a b c d Hanson Robert Salmon Gerard 30 December 2017 Distribution analysis taxonomic updates and conservation status of the Lampropeltis mexicana group PDF Mesoamerican Herpetology 4 4 700 758 Further reading EditBlanchard FN 1920 Three New Snakes of the Genus Lampropeltis Occ Pap Mus Zool Univ Michigan 81 1 10 Lampropeltis ruthveni new species pp 8 10 Plate I figure 2 Heimes P 2016 Snakes of Mexico Herpetofauna Mexicana Vol I Frankfurt am Main Germany Chimaira 572 pp ISBN 978 3899731002 Hubbs B 2004 A Collective Natural History of California Sonoran Durango and Queretaro Mountain Kingsnakes Tempe Arizona Tricolor Books 370 pp ISBN 978 0 9754641 0 6 This colubrid snake article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lampropeltis ruthveni amp oldid 1101665851, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
