You are here » home search results Lampropeltis getula

Lampropeltis getula (LINNAEUS, 1766)

IUCN Red List - Lampropeltis getula - Least Concern, LC

Can you confirm these amateur observations of Lampropeltis getula?

Add your own observation of
Lampropeltis getula »

Find more photos by Google images search: Google images

Higher TaxaColubridae, Colubrinae, Lampropeltini, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Common Kingsnake
floridana: Florida Kingsnake
getula: Eastern Kingsnake
G: Ketten-Königsnatter 
SynonymColuber getulus LINNAEUS 1766: 382
Herpetodryas getulus — SCHLEGEL
Ophibolus getulus — BAIRD & GIRARD 1853: 85
Coronella Getulus — DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL 1854: 616
Coronella getulus var. pseudogetulus JAN 1865
Ophibolus getulus — COPE 1875: 11
Ophibolus getulus — GARMAN 1884: 68
Ophilobus [sic] getulus — COPE 1892: 335
Ophibolus getulus — COPE 1900: 910
Ophibolus getulus getulus — COPE 1900: 914
Triaeniopholis arenarius WERNER 1924: 50
Triaenopholis [sic] arenarius WERNER 1924 (fide SMITH 1928)
Lampropeltis getula sticticeps BARBOUR & ENGELS 1942
Lampropeltis getulus goini NEILL & ALLEN 1949: 101
Lampropeltis getulus brooksi BARBOUR 1919
Lampropeltis getula floridana BLANCHARD 1919
Lampropeltis getulus — DESSAUER & POUGH 1975
Lampropeltis getulus sticticeps — LAZELL & MUSICK 1981
Lampropeltis getula — STEBBINS 1985: 191
Lampropeltis getula — CONANT & COLLINS 1991: 205
Lampropeltis getula — LINER 1994
Lampropeltis getula getula — TENNANT & BARTLETT 2000: 413
Lampropeltis getula floridana — CROTHER 2000: 64
Lampropeltis getula floridana — TENNANT & BARTLETT 2000: 416
Lampropeltis getula floridana — HALLMEN 2005
Lampropeltis getula meansi KRYSKO & JUDD 2006
Lampropeltis getula meansi — SKUBOWIUS 2009
Lampropeltis getula — PYRON & BURBRINK 2009
Lampropeltis getula goini — RENNER in BERG 2013
Lampropeltis getula floridana — LAITA 2013
Lampropeltis floridana — KRYSKO et al. 2017: 9
Lampropeltis getula — KRYSKO et al. 2017: 9
Lampropeltis meansi — KRYSKO et al. 2017: 10
Lampropeltis meansi — KRYSKO et al. 2017: 10
Lampropeltis getula — WALLACH et al. 2014: 357
Lampropeltis getula getula — GUYER et al. 2018 
DistributionUSA (New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Colorado)

Subspecies not recognized any more (see comment):

floridana: S Florida. Intergrades with getula over much of Florida.

getula: S New Jersey to N Florida, west to the Appalachians, West Virginia and S Alabama. Type Locality: ‘Carolina’ (Linnaeus 1766), restricted to Charleston, SC by Klauber (1948).

goini: Florida panhandle; Type locality: “Chipola River valley at Wewahitchka, Gulf County, Florida”;

meansi: Florida (Eastern and SW Apalachicola Lowlands between the Apalachicola and Ochlockonee rivers and south of Telogia Creek, Franklin and Liberty counties. Type locality: Apalachicola National Forest on FH-13 ca. 3.2 km W SR 67, Liberty County, Florida, United States.  
Reproductionoviparous. KREUTZ (2005) reports hybrids between Elaphe (= Pantherophis) guttata and Lampropeltis getulus californiae, between E. (P.) guttata and L. pyromelana, between E. (P.) guttata and L. triangulum sinaloae/nelsoni, and between E. (P.) guttata and L. zonata! 
TypesHolotype: unknown (fide PYRON & BURBRINK 2009).
Holotype: MCZ 12456 [brooksi]
Holotype: Florida State Museum of Natural History; was: WTN 19211 (WT Neill, private collection) [goini]
Holotype: UF 73433 (field tag DBM 1360), an adult male [meansi]
Holotype: MCZ 46469 [sticticeps]
Holotype: USNM 22368 [floridana] 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: The Eastern Kingsnake (L. getula) is a medium- to large-bodied constrictor, the largest in the genus Lampropeltis with a maximum total length of 208.3cm, though the average adult size range is 90– 122cm (Conant & Collins 1998). Scales are smooth, anal plate single, and individuals typically exhibit 19–25 scale rows at midbody. Ventral scales number 200 to 223 in both sexes, while subcaudals number 45–58 in males and 37–55 in females (Blaney 1977). The Eastern Kingsnake ranges from New Jersey to the Florida keys in the east, and west to the western panhandle of Florida and southeastern Alabama (Fig. 2). The species L. getula can be distinguished from all other related snakes primarily on the basis of color pattern, which can be divided into two primary variants. From northern Florida to New Jersey, individuals typically exhibit a dark brown or black ground color, which is punctuated by 17–36 narrow crossbands of white, yellow, or reddish yellow (Blaney 1977), giving the appearance of a ‘chain’ pattern (Fig. 3). In peninsular Florida, the bands increase in both number (22–54) and width, and the ground color lightens considerably to a light brown color with yellow stippling (Blaney 1977; Fig. 3). Isolated populations of other aberrant color pattern variants can be found in the panhandle of Florida (Krysko & Judd 2006). The shift between the Eastern Kingsnake and the Mississippi lineage is fairly abrupt, and previous authors have noted the narrow transition zone and apparent lack of morphological intermediacy in southern Alabama and central Georgia (Fig. 2, 3; Blanchard 1921; Blaney 1977; Mount 1980) [from PYRON & BURBRINK 2009].


Additional details (700 characters) are available for collaborators and contributors. Please contact us for details. 
CommentType species: Herpetodryas getulus SCHLEGEL is the type species of the genus Lampropeltis FITZINGER 1843: 25. Lampropeltis is also the type genus of the tribus Lampropeltini (containing Arizona, Bogertophis, Cemophora, Lampropeltis, Pan- therophis, Pituophis, Pseudelaphe, Rhinocheilus, and Senticolis, fide Dahn et al. 2018).

Synonymy: Kaiser et al. 2013 considered the generic name Eksteinus Hoser 2012 invalid and rejected its use instead of Lampropeltis.

Distribution: records from Mexico (e.g. Coahuila, Baja California, Sonora, Lemos-Espinal et al. 2015, 2016) maybe based on older species concepts of this species. A report from Pakistan is obviously a misidentification (Younas et al. 2017). Records from Oklahoma and Kansas are now referred to L. holbrooki. See maps in Krysko et al. 2017: Figures 1, 2, 5.

Subspecies: Blaney (1977) noted 3 clusters of smoothly intergrading subspecies: (1) californiae, (2) nigrita - splendida - holbrooki - niger, (3) getula - floridana. The status of L. getula sticticeps BARBOUR & ENGELS 1942 was considered “questionable” (PALMER & BRASWELL 1995 but see LAZELL & MUSICK 1973 for a different opinion). Lampropeltis getula californiae (BLAINVILLE 1835), holbrooki, niger, and splendida have been revalidated to species status by PYRON & BURBRINK 2009. These authors consider floridana, meansi, goini, and sticticeps as synonyms of L. getula, and nigrita as a synonym of californiae. KRYSKO et al. 2017 recognized floridana as full species and synonymized brooksi and sticticeps with it.

Morphological intermediates (i.e., L. g. goini) between L. g. meansi and L. g. getula are found mostly in the surrounding region from southern Gulf and Franklin counties to the west, north to Calhoun County, and east into northern Liberty (north of Telogia Creek), Gadsden, Leon, Wakulla, and Jefferson counties.

Phylogenetics: see Dahn et al. 2018 for a phylogeny of Lampropeltini. 
EtymologyThe specific epithet refers to the Getulian people of northern Morocco, whose tribal insignia bears a resemblance to the ‘chain’ pattern of the kingsnakes of the Eastern Seaboard of the United States.

L. g. meansi has been named after the collector of the type, D. Bruce Means.

The genus name was derived from the Greek words lampro, meaning "bright or clear" and pelte, meaning "a small shIeld," applied in reference to the shiny "scales." 
References
  • Allen, E. Rross; Neill, Wilfred T. 1954. Juveniles of Brooks' kingsnake, Lampropeltis getulus brooksi. Copeia 1954 (1): 59 - get paper here
  • Allen, Morrow J. 1932. A survey of the Amphibians and reptiles of Harrison County, Mississippi. American Museum Novitates (542): 1-20 - get paper here
  • Allen, W. L., R. Baddeley, N. E. Scott-Samuel, and I. C. Cuthill. 2013. The evolution and function of pattern diversity in snakes. Behav. Ecol. 24:1237– 1250
  • Anonymous 2007. Snakes of New Jersey. New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife
  • Austin, James D.;Gregory, Patrick T. 1999. Relative roles of thermal and chemical cues in the investigative behavior of prey in colubrid (Elaphe guttata and Lampropeltis getulus) and Boid (Python regius) snakes. Herpetological Natural History 6 (1): 47-50 [1998]
  • Baird, S. F. and C. Girard. 1853. Catalogue of North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Part 1.-Serpents. Smithsonian Inst., Washington, xvi + 172 pp. - get paper here
  • Ballard, A; Andrews, K M & Colbert, J E 2018. Lampropeltis getula getula (Eastern Kingsnake) Diet and habitat use. Herpetological Review 49 (2): 344-345 - get paper here
  • Barbour, T. and Engels 1942. Two interesting new snakes. Proc. New England Zool. Club 20: 101-104
  • Barbour, Thomas 1917. Another New Jersey king snake. Copeia 1917 (49): 92 - get paper here
  • Bateman, Heather L.; Alice Chung-MacCoubrey, Howard L. Snell, and Deborah M. Finch 2009. Abundance and Species Richness of Snakes along the Middle Rio Grande Riparian Forest in New Mexico. Herp. Cons. Biol. 4: 1 - get paper here
  • Beane, J C 2019. New geographic distribution records for reptiles from North Carolina, USA. Herpetological Review 50 (3): 538-542 - get paper here
  • Bentley, Georgia H. 1919. Reptiles collected in the vicinity of Current, Nye County, Nevada. Copeia 1919 (75): 87-91 - get paper here
  • Berg, M. van den et al. 2013. Traumterrarien. Reptilia (Münster) 18 (100): 16-27 - get paper here
  • Bergman, Enoch; Montgomery, Chad; Childers, Theresa; Manzer, Jerry D.; Sifert, James; Hill, Ben; Mackessy, Stephen P. 1998. Geographic Distribution. Lampropeltis getula. Herpetological Review 29 (2): 113 - get paper here
  • Bezy, Robert L. and Charles J. Cole 2014. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Madrean Archipelago of Arizona and New Mexico. American Museum Novitates (3810): 1-24 - get paper here
  • Blainville, Henri Marie Ducrotay de 1835. Description de quelques espèces de reptiles de la Californie précédée de l’analyse d’un système général d’erpétologie et d’amphibiologie. Nouv. Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris 4: 233-296 - get paper here
  • Blanchard, Frank N. 1919. Two new snakes of the genus Lampropeltis. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (70): 1-11 - get paper here
  • Blanchard, Frank N. 1920. A synopsis of the king snakes: Genus Lampropeltis Fitzinger. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (87): 1-7 - get paper here
  • Blanchard, Frank N. 1932. A clutch of eggs of the speckled king snake, Lampropeltis getulus holbrooki (Stejneger). Copeia 1932 (2): 98 - get paper here
  • Blaney, R. M. 1979. The status of the outer banks kingsnake, Lampropeltis getulus sticticeps (Reptilia: Serpentes: Colubridae). Brimleyana 1: 125-128 - get paper here
  • Blaney, Richard M. 1973. Lampropeltis. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (150): 1-2 - get paper here
  • Blaney, Richard M. 1977. Systematics of the common kingsnake, Lampropeltis getulus (Linnaeus). Tulane Studies in Zoology and Botany 19 (3-4): 47-103 - get paper here
  • Blom, M. 2003. Algemene verzorging en kweek van Lampropeltis en Elaphe soorten. Lacerta 61 (1): 32-39 - get paper here
  • Boback, Scott;Link, Shelly;Bergman, Enoch;Hill, Ben;Montgomery, Chad;Hobert, Justin;Mackessey, Stephen P. 1996. Geographic Distribution. Lampropeltis getula. Herpetological Review 27 (4): 213 - get paper here
  • Bogosian, Victor; Eric C. Hellgren, and Raymond W. Moody 2012. Assemblages of Amphibians, Reptiles, and Mammals on an Urban Military Base in Oklahoma. Southwestern Naturalist 57 (3): 277-284. - get paper here
  • Boundy, Jeff. 2011. Book Review: Common Kingsnakes - A Natural History of Lampropeltis getula. Herpetological Review 42 (3): 453-455 - get paper here
  • Brady, Maurice 1927. Notes on the reptiles and amphibians of the Dismal Swamp. Copeia 1927 (162): 26-29 - get paper here
  • Burkett, Doug; Painter, Charles W. 1998. Geographic Distribution. Lampropeltis getula splendida. Herpetological Review 29 (2): 113 - get paper here
  • Burt, Charles E. 1933. A contribution to the herpetology of Kentucky. American Midland Naturalist 14 (6): 669-679 - get paper here
  • Burt, Charles E. 1935. Further records of the ecology and distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the middle west. American Midland Naturalist 16 (3): 311-336 - get paper here
  • Camper, Jeffrey D. 2019. The Reptiles of South Carolina. University of South Carolina Press, 288 pp. [review in Copeia 107 (3): 590, 2019] - get paper here
  • Carpenter, Charles C. 1977. Communication and Displays of Snakes. American Zoologist 17: 217-223 - get paper here
  • Christman, S. P. 1980. Patterns of geographic variation in Florida snakes. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum of Biological Sciences 25 (3): 1 (157?)-256 - get paper here
  • Clark, R. 2013. Cannibalism in the Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula). Sonoran Herpetologist 26 (3):55. - get paper here
  • Collins, J.T. & Collins, S.L. 2009. A pocket guide to Kansas snakes, 2nd ed. Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, 69 pp.
  • Collins, J.T. & Collins, S.L. 2010. A pocket guide to Kansas snakes, 3rd ed. Great Plains Nature Center, Wichita, 69 pp.
  • Collins, Joseph T.;Sapienza, David C. 1998. Geographic distribution. Lampropeltis getula nigra. Herpetological Review 29 (3): 177 - get paper here
  • Conant, Roger 1934. Observations on the eggs and young of the black king snake, Lampropeltis getulus nigra (Yarrow). Copeia 1934 (4): 188-189 - get paper here
  • Conant, Roger 1938. The Reptiles of Ohio. American Midland Naturalist 20 (1): 1-200 - get paper here
  • Conant,R. & Collins,J.T. 1991. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern/Central North America, 3rd ed. Houghton Mifflin (Boston/New York), xx + 450 p.
  • Cope, E.D. 1860. Catalogue of the Colubridae in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, with notes and descriptions of new species. Part II. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 12: 241-266 - get paper here
  • Cope, E.D. 1875. The herpetology of Florida. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1875: 10-11 - get paper here
  • Cope, E.D. 1892. The Batrachia and Reptilia of North West Texas. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 1892: 331-337 - get paper here
  • Cope, E.D. 1900. The crocodilians, lizards and snakes of North America. Ann. Rep. U.S. Natl. Mus. 1898: 153-1270 - get paper here
  • Corrington, Julian D. 1927. Field note on some amphibians and reptiles at Biloxi, Mississippi. Copeia 1927 (165): 98-102 - get paper here
  • Corrington, Julian D. 1929. Herpetology of the Columbia, South Carolina, region. Copeia 1929 (172): 58-83 - get paper here
  • Crother, B. I. 2000. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. Herpetological Circular 29: 1-82
  • Crother, B. I. (ed.) 2012. Standard Common and Current Scientific Names for North American Amphibians, Turtles, Reptiles, and Crocodilians, Seventh Edition. Herpetological Circular 39: 1-92
  • Dahn, H. A., Strickland, J. L., Osorio, A., Colston, T. J., & Parkinson, C. L. 2018. Hidden diversity within the depauperate genera of the snake tribe Lampropeltini (Serpentes, Colubridae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution - get paper here
  • Davenport, Stephen R.;Stuart, James N.;Sias, Don S. 1998. Geographic Distribution. Lampropeltis getula californiae. Herpetological Review 29 (1): 53 - get paper here
  • DEEMING, D.C. 2022. Inter‐relationships among body mass, body dimensions, jaw musculature and bite force in reptiles. Journal of Zoology jzo.12981. - get paper here
  • Degenhardt, William G.; C. W. Painter, and A. H. Price 1996. Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. Univ. New Mexico Press, 431 pp.
  • Dessauer, Herbert C. & Pough, F. H. 1975. GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION OF BLOOD PROTEINS AND THE SYSTEMATICS OF KINGSNAKES (LAMPROPELTIS GETULUS). Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 50B: 9-12 - get paper here
  • Duméril, A.M.C., and G. Bibron. 1835. Erpétologie Générale ou Histoire Naturelle Complète des Reptiles, Vol. 2. Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret, Paris, iv + 680 p. - get paper here
  • Duran M 2021. An annotated checklist of the amphibians and reptiles of North Padre Island, Texas, USA, with comparisons to adjacent barrier island and mainland herpetofauna. ZooKeys 1073: 119-175 - get paper here
  • Enge, Kevin M. 2009. Venomous and non-venomous snakes of Florida. Publication of the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. 16 pp.
  • ENGE, KEVIN M.; JR. HEYWARD F. CLAMP, RICKY WALTERS & JAMES ADAMS. 2022. LAMPROPELTIS GETULA (Eastern Kingsnake). ABERRANT PHENOTYPE. Herpetological Review 53 (1): 151–152.
  • Ernst, C.H., & Barbour, R.W. 1989. Snakes of eastern North America. George Mason Univ. Press, Fairfax, VA 282 pp.
  • Fitch, H. S. 1936. Amphibians and reptiles of the Rouge River Basin, Oregon. American Midland Naturalist 17: 634-652 - get paper here
  • FLESCH, AARON D.; DON E. SWANN, DALE S. TURNER, AND BRIAN F. POWELL 2010. HERPETOFAUNA OF THE RINCON MOUNTAINS, ARIZONA. Southwestern Naturalist 55(2):240–253 - get paper here
  • Garman, Samuel 1884. The reptiles and batrachians of North America. Mem. Mus. comp. Zool, Cambridge (Massachusetts), 8 (3): xxxiv + 185 pp. [1883] [CNAH reprint 10] - get paper here
  • Gemel, R.; G. Gassner & S. Schweiger 2019. Katalog der Typen der Herpetologischen Sammlung des Naturhistorischen Museums Wien – 2018. Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien, B 121: 33–248
  • Gilbert, Carter R. 1974. Catalogue of type specimens in the Department of Natural Sciences, Florida State Museum. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum Biological Sciences 18 (2): 102-120 - get paper here
  • GODLEY, J. STEVE; BRIAN J. HALSTEAD, AND ROY W. MCDIARMID 2016. Ecology of the Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) at Rainey Slough, Florida: A Vanished Eden. Project Simus, FL - get paper here
  • Godley, J. Steve; Brian J. Halstead, and Roy W. McDiarmid 2017. Ecology of the Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula) at Rainey Slough, Florida: A Vanished Eden. Herpetological Monographs 31 (1): 47-68. - get paper here
  • Green, N.B., & Pauley, T.K. 1987. Amphibians and reptiles in West Virginia. Univ. of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, 241 pp.
  • Grismer, L. Lee. 1999. An evolutionary classification of reptiles on islands in the Gulf of California, México. Herpetologica 55 (4): 446-469 - get paper here
  • Groves, John D. 2014. Lampropeltis getula (common kingsnake) diet. Herpetological Review 45 (3): 516-517 - get paper here
  • Guyer, Craig; Mark A. Bailey, and Robert H. Mount 2018. Lizards and snakes of Alabama. University of Alabama Press, 397 pp. - get paper here
  • Hallmen, M. 2005. Farb- und Zeichnungszuchten in der Terraristik. Reptilia (Münster) 10 (55): 16-22 - get paper here
  • Hallmen, M. 2006. Selective Breeding for color and pattern. Reptilia (GB) (44): 12-18 - get paper here
  • HEWLETT, JOHN B. H 2021. LAMPROPELTIS GETULA NIGRA (Black Kingsnake). DIET and FEEDING BEHAVIOR. Herpetological Review 52 (1): 161–162. - get paper here
  • Hoser, R.T. 2012. A three-way division of the New World genus Lampropeltis Fitzinger, 1843. Australasian J. Herpetol. 12:54–57. - get paper here
  • Howze, Jennifer M. and Lora L. Smith 2012. Factors Influencing Eastern Kingsnake Diel Activity. Copeia 2012 (3): 460-464. - get paper here
  • Hubbs, Brian 2009. COMMON KINGSNAKES, A NATURAL HISTORY OF LAMPROPELTIS GETULA. Tricolor Books, Tempe AZ, 436 pp. [review in HR 42 (3): 453-455]
  • Hudson, Bryan D., Zach I. Felix, Justin Oguni, Brad Wilson, Kira McEntire, Theresa Stratmann, Daniel D. Duff and Zack Seymour. 2015. New geographic distributional records of amphbians and reptiles in Georgia, USA. Herpetological Review 46 (4): 595-596 - get paper here
  • Irwin, Kelly J. 2004. Arkansas Snake Guide. Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Little Rock, 50 pp.
  • Jan, G. 1865. Iconographie générale des ophidiens. 14. Livraison. [Elapomorphus d’Orbignyi, Coronella getulus var. Sayi]. J.B. Bailière et Fils, Paris - get paper here
  • Jan, G. 1865. Iconographie générale des ophidiens. 12. Livraison. J.B. Bailière et Fils, Paris - get paper here
  • Jensen, John B.; Carlos D. Camp, Whit Gibbons, & Matt J. Elliott 2008. Amphibians and reptiles of Georgia. University of Georgia Press, 575 pp.
  • Kaiser, H.; Crother, B.I.; Kelly, C.M.R.; Luiselli, L.; O’Shea, M.; Ota, H.; Passos, P.; Schleip, W.D. & Wüster, W. 2013. Best Practices: In the 21st Century, Taxonomic Decisions in Herpetology are Acceptable Only When Supported by a Body of Evidence and Published via Peer-Review. Herpetological Review 44 (1): 8-23
  • Klauber, Laurence M. 1938. Notes from a herpetological diary, I. Copeia 1938 (4): 191-197 - get paper here
  • Klueh-Mundy, Sarabeth and Mirtl, Jason 2016. Geographic Distribution: Lampropeltis getula nigra (Eastern Black Kingsnake). Herpetological Review 47 (4): 630 - get paper here
  • Knight, J L - Loraine, R K 1986. NOTES ON TURTLE EGG PREDATION BY LAMPROPELTIS GETULUS (LINNAEUS) (REPTILIA, COLUBRIDAE) ON THE SAVANNAH RIVER PLANT, SOUTH-CAROLINA. Brimleyana 12: 1-4 - get paper here
  • Kreutz, R. 2005. Farb- und Zeichnungsstandard der Kornnatter (Panterhophis guttatus). Kirschner und Seufer Verlag, Keltern-Weiler, 158 pp.
  • Krysko, K.L.; Judd, W.S. 2006. Morphological systematics of kingsnakes, Lampropeltis getula complex (Serpentes: Colubridae), in the eastern United States. Zootaxa 1193: 1-39. - get paper here
  • Krysko, Kenneth L. 2001. Ecology, Conservation, and Morphological and Molecular Systematics of the Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula (Serpentes: Colubridae). Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of Florida - get paper here
  • Krysko, Kenneth L.; Leroy P. Nuñez, Catherine E. Newman, Brian W. Bowen 2017. Phylogenetics of Kingsnakes, Lampropeltis getula Complex (Serpentes: Colubridae), in Eastern North America. J Hered.: esw086. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esw086 - get paper here
  • Laita, Mark 2013. Serpentine. Abrams and PQ Blackwell, Auckland, New Zealand, 200 unnumbered pages
  • Lara-Gongora, Guillermo; Beaman, Kent R.; Grismer, L. Lee; Lawler, Howard E. 1993. Lampropeltis getula californiae (California Kingsnake). México: Sonora. Herpetological Review 24 (2): 67-68 - get paper here
  • Lazell, J.D. & Musick, J.A. 1981. Status of the Outer Banks Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula sticticeps. Herpetological Review 12 (1): 7 - get paper here
  • Lazell, James D., Jr & Musick, J.A. 1973. The kingsnake, Lampropeltis getulus sticticeps, and the ecology of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Copeia 1973 (3): 497-503 - get paper here
  • LeClere, Jeffrey B. 1995. Lampropeltis getula holbrooki. Herpetological Review 26 (2): 110 - get paper here
  • Lemos-Espinal JA, Smith GR 2016. Amphibians and reptiles of the state of Coahuila, Mexico, with comparison with adjoining states. ZooKeys 593: 117-137, doi: 10.3897/zookeys.593.8484 - get paper here
  • Linné, C. von [= Linnaeus, C.] 1766. Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio duodecima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Stockholm, Holmiae. 1-532 pp. - get paper here
  • Linzey, D.W., & Clifford, M.J. 1981. Snakes of Virgina. Univ. Press of Virginia, Charlottesville 159 pp.
  • Lönnberg, Einar 1894. Notes on reptiles and batrachians collected in Florida in 1892 and 1893. Proc. US Natl. Mus. 17 (1003): 317-339 - get paper here
  • Lutterschmidt, William I.; J.M. Weidler, and Christopher M. Schalk 2019. Hot Moments and Hot Spots in the Bayou: Spatiotemporal Patterns of Road Occurrence in a Snake Assemblage in Louisiana, USA. Herp. Conserv. Biology 14 (2): - get paper here
  • Manis, C. & Wilson, T. P. 2012. Geographic distribution: Lampropeltis getula (common kingsnake). Herpetological Review 43: 308 - get paper here
  • Manning, Glenn J., Thomas J. Belford, Brad Birchfield, Jeremy R. Sloan and James U. Van Dyke. 2015. Geographic Distribution: Lampropeltis getula splendida x holbrooki (desert / speckled kingsnake intergrade). Herpetological Review 46 (4): 574 - get paper here
  • Mattison, Chris 2007. The New Encyclopedia of Snakes. Princeton University Press
  • McAllister, Chris T. and Henry W. Robison. 2010. Geographic distribution: Lampropeltis getula holbrooki. Herpetological Review 41 (3): 380 - get paper here
  • Means, D. Bruce 1998. Geographic Distribution. Lampropeltis getula. Herpetological Review 29 (2): 113 - get paper here
  • Meierkord, R. 2010. Haltung und Zucht der Kalifornischen Kettennatter, Lampropeltis californiae. Reptilia (Münster) 15 (82): 52-55 - get paper here
  • Michaeli, A.S., Newman, J.C. & Barrett, K. 2018. Geographic Distribution: Lampropeltis getula (Eastern Kingsnake). Herpetological Review 49 (1): 77. - get paper here
  • Mitchell, J. C. & Reay, K.K. 1999. Atlas of amphibians and reptiles in Virginia. Specialty Publication 1, VA Dept of Game and Fisheries, 122 pp. - get paper here
  • Mitchell, J.C. 1994. The reptiles of Virginia. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, ca. 350 pp.
  • Murphy, R. W.; Ottley, J. R. 1984. Distribution of amphibians and reptiles on islands in the Gulf of California. Annals of the Carnegie Museum 53 (8): 207-230 - get paper here
  • Myers, E. A., Hickerson, M. J. and Burbrink, F. T. 2016. Asynchronous diversification of snakes in the North American warm deserts. J. Biogeogr.. doi:10.1111/jbi.12873 - get paper here
  • Neill, Wilfred T.; Allen, E. Ross 1949. A new kingsnake (genus Lampropeltis) from Florida. Herpetologica 5 (5): 101-106 - get paper here
  • Nemuras, K. 1966. Additional records of Lampropeltis getulus getulus and Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Bull. Maryland Herp. Soc. 2 (3): 5 - get paper here
  • Nevárez-de los Reyes; Manuel, David Lazcano, Javier Banda-Leal and Ian Recchio 2014. Notes on Mexican Herpetofauna 22: Herpetofauna of the Continental Portion of the Municipality of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Bull. Chicago Herp. Soc. 49(8):105-115 - get paper here
  • Newman, J. C. & Graham, S. P. 2012. Geographic distribution: Lampropeltis getula (common kingsnake). Herpetological Review 43: 448 - get paper here
  • PADEN, L., T. M. NORTON, AND K. M. ANDREWS 2020. Lampropeltis getula (Eastern Kingsnake). Bicephaly. Herpetological Review 51: 147.
  • Palmer, W.M. & Braswell, A.L. 1995. Reptiles of North Carolina. Univ. North Carolina Press
  • Phillips, Christopher A.;Petzing, John E. 1998. Geographic distribution. Lampropeltis getula holbrooki. Herpetological Review 29 (3): 177 - get paper here
  • Pierson, T. 2012. Geographic distribution: Lampropeltis getula (common kingsnake). Herpetological Review 43: 308 - get paper here
  • POWERS, MICHAEL 2015. Lampropeltis getula californiae (California kingsnake): Juvenile aggregation. Herpetological Bulletin (132) - get paper here
  • Price, A.H. & J.L. LaPointe 1981. Structure-Functional Aspects of the Scent Gland in Lampropeltis getula splendida Copeia 1981 (1): 138-146. - get paper here
  • Pyron, R. Alexander; Frank T. Burbrink 2009. Systematics of the Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula; Serpentes: Colubridae) and the burden of heritage in taxonomy. Zootaxa 2241: 22-32 - get paper here
  • Pyron, R. Alexander; Frank T. Burbrink 2009. LINEAGE DIVERSIFICATION IN A WIDESPREAD SPECIES: ROLES FOR NICHE DIVERGENCE AND CONSERVATISM IN THE COMMON KINGSNAKE, LAMPROPELTIS GETULA. Molecular Ecology 18: 3443–3457 - get paper here
  • Renner, D. 2013. Die Gesprenkelte Kettennatter, Lampropeltis getula holbrooki – Eine unterschätzte Schönheit. Reptilia (Münster) 18 (103): 60-64 - get paper here
  • Rochester, Carlton J.; Cheryl S. Brehme, Denise R. Clark, Drew C. Stokes, Stacie A. Hathaway, and Robert N. Fisher 2010. Reptile and Amphibian Responses to Large-Scale Wildfires in Southern California. Journal of Herpetology 44 (3): 333–351 - get paper here
  • RODRIGUES NEHEMY, IBRAHIM KAMEL; THAYLLON ORZECHOWSKY GOMES, FERNANDA PAIVA, WESLEY KAUAN KUBO, JOÃO EMÍLIO DE ALMEIDA JÚNIOR, NATHAN FERNANDES NEVES & VINICIUS DE AVELAR SÃO PEDRO. 2022. Herpeto-commerce: A look at the illegal online trade of amphibians and reptiles in Brazil. Cuadernos de Herpetología 36(2): 185–196. - get paper here
  • Saviola, Anthony J.; Valerie J. McKenzie, David Chiszar 2012. Chemosensory responses to chemical and visual stimuli in five species of colubrid snakes. Acta Herpetologica 7 (1): 91-103 - get paper here
  • Schmidt, D. 2004. Die Kettennatter Lampropeltis getula. Natur und Tier Verlag (Münster), 64 pp. - get paper here
  • Schmidt, D. 2005. Eine Kettennatter als Vegetarierin. Reptilia (Münster) 10 (51): 8-9 - get paper here
  • Schmidt, D. 2015. Nattern. Arten und Tipps für Einsteiger. Reptilia (Münster) 20 (115): 28-41 - get paper here
  • Schmidt, T. 2007. Die Kalifornische Kettennatter, Lampropeltis getula californiae (Blainville, 1835), im Terrarium Terraria (6) 2 (4): 40-44.
  • Seufer, H. & Jauch, H. 1980. Die Kettennatter Lampropeltis getulus Teil 2. Herpetofauna 2 (7): 31-32 - get paper here
  • Seufer, H. & Jauch, H. 1980. Die Kettennatter Lampropeltis getulus. Herpetofauna 2 (6): 11-14 - get paper here
  • Skubowius, B. 2009. Haltung und Nachzucht der Kettennattern, Lampropeltis getula, Floridas. Draco 10 (37): 56-62 - get paper here
  • Skubowius, B. 2010. New Jersey – Mit „Fieldherpern“ und „Pineys“ auf der Suche nach der Nördlichen Kiefernnatter (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus). Reptilia (Münster) 15 (84): 52-60 - get paper here
  • Slevin, Joseph R. 1950. A remarkable concentration of desert snakes [Lampropeltis getula yumensis californiae nigrita]. Herpetologica 6 (1): 12-13 - get paper here
  • SMITH, DUSTIN C.; R. GRAHAM REYNOLDS; KATHERINE L. HAGEN 2021. Snakes on a Path: Ecology of a North Carolina Piedmont Snake Community. Herpetological Review 52 (3): 473–481
  • Smith, M.A. 1928. The status of some recently described genera and species of snakes. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (10) 1: 494-496 - get paper here
  • Smith, Philip W. 1956. A blotch-count gradient in snakes [Lampropeltis triangulum syspila calligaster getula getulus niger]. Herpetologica 12 (2): 156-160 - get paper here
  • Snyder, Richard C. 1945. Notes on the snakes of southeastern Alabama. Copeia 1945 (3): 173-174 - get paper here
  • Stebbins,R.C. 1985. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians, 2nd ed. Houghton Mifflin, Boston
  • Steen, D.A., J.M. Linehan & L.L. Smith 2010. Multiscale Habitat Selection and Refuge Use of Common Kingsnakes, Lampropeltis getula, in Southwestern Georgia Copeia 2010 (2): 227-231. - get paper here
  • Stejneger, L. 1902. The reptiles of the Huachuca Mountains, Arizona. Proc. US Natl. Mus. 25 [1902]: 149-158 - get paper here
  • Tanner, Vasco M. 1927. Distributional list of the amphibians and reptiles of Utah. Copeia 1927 (163): 54-58 - get paper here
  • Tanner, Wilmer W. 1958. Herpetological range extensions. Herpetologica 14: 195-196 - get paper here
  • Taylor, Edward H. 1952. Third contribution of the herpetology of the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí. Univ. Kansas Sci. Bull. 34 (13): 793-815 - get paper here
  • Taylor-Young, M. 2011. The Guide to Colorado Reptiles and Amphibians. Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, Colorado, 169 pp.
  • Tennant, A. 2003. Snakes of North America - Eastern and Central Regions, revised edition. Lone Star Books, 605 pp.
  • Tennant, A. & Bartlett, R.D. 2000. Snakes of North America - Eastern and Central Regions. Gulf Publishing, Houston, TX, 588 pp.
  • Terrell, Vanessa C., Jaimie L. Klemish, Nathan J. Engbecht, John A. May, Peter J. Lannoo, Rochelle M. Stiles, and Michael J. Lannoo. 2014. Amphibian and reptile colonization of reclaimed coal spoil grasslands. The Journal of North American Herpetology 2014(1):59-68 - get paper here
  • Thissen, R. & Hansen, H. 2001. Königsnattern - Lampropeltis. Natur und Tier Verlag (Münster), 172 pp. - get paper here
  • Thornton, Okla W., Jr.;Smith, Jerry R. 1993. New county records of amphibians and reptiles from West-Central Texas. Herpetological Review 24 (1): 35-36 - get paper here
  • Thums, M. 2004. Die schwarze Mexiko-Kettennatter (Lampropeltis getula nigrita) im Terrarium. Reptilia (Münster) 9 (49): 72-75 - get paper here
  • Turner, D. S., Van Devender, T. R., Hale, S. F., Zach, R., Martínez, R., Van Devender, R. W., ... & Paholski, C. 2022. Amphibians and reptiles of Rancho Las Playitas area, Sonora, Mexico. Sonoran Herpetologist, 35, 50-59 - get paper here
  • Van Denburgh, J.; Slevin, J. R. 1921. Preliminary diagnoses of more new species of reptiles from islands in the gulf of California, Mexico. Proc. Cal. Acad. Sci. (4) 11 (17): 395-398 - get paper here
  • Van Hyning, O. 1931. Reproduction of Some Florida Snakes. Copeia 1931 (2): 59-60 - get paper here
  • Voris, H.K., D.R. Karns, K.A. Feldheim, B. Kechavarzi, and M. Rinehart. 2008. Multiple paternity in the oriental-australian rear-fanged watersnakes (Homalopsidae). Herp. Cons. Biol. 3: 88-102 - get paper here
  • Wallach, Van; Kenneth L. Williams , Jeff Boundy 2014. Snakes of the World: A Catalogue of Living and Extinct Species. [type catalogue] Taylor and Francis, CRC Press, 1237 pp.
  • Wallach,V. 1988. Status and redescription of the genus Padangia Werner, with comparative visceral data on Collorhabdium Smedley and other genera (Serpentes: Colubridae). Amphibia-Reptilia 9: 61-76 - get paper here
  • Werner, F. 1924. Neue oder wenig bekannte Schlangen aus dem Naturhistorischen Staatsmuseum in Wien. l. Teil. Sitzungsb. Ber. Akad. Wiss., Wien, Abt. l, 133: 29 - 56 - get paper here
  • Wilgers, D.J.; Horne, E.A.; Sandercock, B.K. & Volkmann, A.W. 2006. Effects of rangeland management on community dynamics of the herpetofauna of the Tall-grass Prairie [Flint Hills, Kansas/Oklahoma]. Herpetologica 62 (4): 378-388 - get paper here
  • Winne, C.T., J.D. Willson, B.D. Todd, K.M. Andrews & J.W. Gibbons 2007. Enigmatic Decline of a Protected Population of Eastern Kingsnakes, Lampropeltis getula, in South Carolina Copeia 2007 (3): 507-519. - get paper here
  • Woodbury, Angus Munn 1928. The reptiles of Zion National Park. Copeia 1928 (166): 14-21 - get paper here
  • Yarrow, H.C. 1882. Description of new species of reptiles and amphibians in the US National Museum. Proc. US Natl. Mus. 5: 438-443 - get paper here
  • Younas, Saqib; Shafiullah Gul, Hameed Ur Rehman, Faisal Junaid, Wali Muhammad Achakzai, Shagufta Saddozai, Khalid Usman and Zawar Ahmad 2017. Zoological fauna of Khurum Dam and Muhabbat Khel Dam of district Karak, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2017; 5(1): 380-387 - get paper here
  • Young, Cameron A.;Iverson, John B. 1997. Geographic Distribution. Lampropeltis getula nigra. Herpetological Review 28 (1): 52 - get paper here
  • Zweifel, Richard G. 1997. Alternating use of hemipenes in the kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula. Journal of Herpetology 31 (3): 459-461 - get paper here
  • Zweifel,R.G. and Norris,K.S. 1955. Contributions to the herpetology of Sonora, Mexico:Descriptions of new subspecies of snakes (Micruroides euryxanthus and Lampropeltis getulus) and miscellaneous collecting notes. American Midland Naturalist 54: 230-249 - get paper here
 
External links  
Is it interesting? Share with others:

As link to this species use URL address:

https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Lampropeltis&species=getula

without field 'search_param'. Field 'search_param' is used for browsing search result.



Please submit feedback about this entry to the curator