Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropelitis Getula Getula)
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You may visit the resident Eastern Kingsnake in the Research Center at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. The Eastern Kingsnake uses its colorings as a defense mechanism. They make quick, jerky movements so that their bands flash, startling predators. Their bright colors signal danger and often confuse predators, making these snakes hard to follow.
Like many types of snakes, they will also emit an unpleasant musk and flee rather than fight when threatened. Eastern Kingsnakes are known for eating other snakes - including venomous species. This is why they are known as King Snakes. |
DESCRIPTION: The Eastern Kingsnakes have glossy scales that form two-color bandings, with colors ranging from black and white to black and yellow. The banding is typically horizontal stripes. The Eastern Kingsnake has about 30 bands. The head is black with white or yellow speckled scales. The underbelly is pale yellow with alternating patterns of black scales in a “zigzag” pattern.
The Eastern Kingsnake is a medium-sized, nonvenomous constrictor; they seize prey with their jaws and wrap tightly around the animal, squeezing until it dies. The snake then swallows the prey whole.
They are between 36 and 48 inches long. On average they weigh 64 ounces.
Eastern Kingsnakes look similar to corn snakes but an identifying difference is the Eastern Kingsnake has a rounded belly and a corn snake has a flat belly.
They are mostly nocturnal but will spend the day basking in sunny spots to warm themselves.
They are excellent climbers and swimmers.
RANGE: The Eastern Kingsnake can be found as far north as southern New Jersey and as far west as southern Alabama and to the south as far as northern Florida.
HABITAT: Eastern Kingsnakes inhabit pinelands, hardwood hammocks, prairies, marshes, and estuaries.
DIET: Carnivores – rodents and other small mammals, eggs and other snakes.
FAMILY LIFE: The female chooses a nesting site in rotting logs or piles of sawdust. She will lay a clutch between 3 to 29 eggs in a single breeding season.
The incubation temperature of the nest determines the gender of the offspring with warmer temperatures producing males and cooler temperatures producing females.
When the snakes hatch they are fully formed, totally independent and are 8 to 11 inches long. They tend to stay in the nest for the first week until their first skin shed.
LIFE SPAN: The average life span in the wild is nine years. In human care they have been known to live up to 33 years.
STATUS: Least Concern
The Eastern Kingsnake is a medium-sized, nonvenomous constrictor; they seize prey with their jaws and wrap tightly around the animal, squeezing until it dies. The snake then swallows the prey whole.
They are between 36 and 48 inches long. On average they weigh 64 ounces.
Eastern Kingsnakes look similar to corn snakes but an identifying difference is the Eastern Kingsnake has a rounded belly and a corn snake has a flat belly.
They are mostly nocturnal but will spend the day basking in sunny spots to warm themselves.
They are excellent climbers and swimmers.
RANGE: The Eastern Kingsnake can be found as far north as southern New Jersey and as far west as southern Alabama and to the south as far as northern Florida.
HABITAT: Eastern Kingsnakes inhabit pinelands, hardwood hammocks, prairies, marshes, and estuaries.
DIET: Carnivores – rodents and other small mammals, eggs and other snakes.
FAMILY LIFE: The female chooses a nesting site in rotting logs or piles of sawdust. She will lay a clutch between 3 to 29 eggs in a single breeding season.
The incubation temperature of the nest determines the gender of the offspring with warmer temperatures producing males and cooler temperatures producing females.
When the snakes hatch they are fully formed, totally independent and are 8 to 11 inches long. They tend to stay in the nest for the first week until their first skin shed.
LIFE SPAN: The average life span in the wild is nine years. In human care they have been known to live up to 33 years.
STATUS: Least Concern
