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Prairie Kingsnake
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- Order: Squamata (scaled reptiles)
- Suborder: Serpentes (snakes)
- Family: Colubridae ("typical" snakes)
- Subfamily: Colubrinae ("typical"
snakes)
- Genus: Lampropeltis (kings and
milksnakes)
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Scientific Name: Lampropeltis
calligaster (Harlan, 1827) |
Habitat: Fields and
other open areas with sufficient cover, often near human
habitation (farms). Can also be found in wooded areas. |
Lampro="shiny," pelta="shield"
(scales), kallos="beauty," gaster="belly"
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Length: Up to 4.5
feet. |
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Food: Rodents, birds,
frogs, lizards, and other snakes. |
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Erik
and I found this snake on 22 March 2003 in a vacant lot in San
Antonio. Actually, Erik spotted it. It was retreating
into a pile of discarded shingles. |
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This individual was only about
18-24 inches long. Prairie kingsnakes can easily reach twice
that length.
See also the prairie kings found in Arkansas.
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