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Gray-banded Kingsnake (Lampropeltis alterna)
Lampropeltis alterna Photograph by Patrick JEAN / muséum d'histoire naturelle de Nantes. License: copyright free. (view image details)
GRAY-BANDED KINGSNAKE FACTS
DescriptionThe Grey-banded Kingsnake is variable in color and pattern. There is two main variations: "Blairs" form has wide orange-red banding, and the "Alterna" form has narrow orange-red banding. The background color is light or dark gray. Some specimens lack the orange or red banding. They have a fairly wide head and large eyes with round pupils. Grey-banded Kingsnakes are nocturnal and secretive and rarely seen in the wild. Size average length 70cm - 100cm. Can grow to 140cm Environment Rocky canyons, mountain ridges, rocky slopes and boulder piles. Sometimes found in desert flats. Food lizards, rodents, and sometimes frogs. Breeding oviparous. Female lays clutches of 3 - 13 eggs in early summer, which hatch after about 9 weeks. Hatchlings are around 25cm long. Range found in western Texas, southern New Mexico, and northern Chihuahua in Mexico. Notes The Grey-banded Kingsnake is non-venomous, fairly docile and not prone to biting. It is popular in the reptile pet trade and is commonly kept in captivity. They are often bred in captivity and cross breeding with other species of Kingsnake is becoming more common. Classification
Relatives in same Genus Prairie Kingsnake (L. calligaster calligaster) Mole Kingsnake (L. calligaster rhombomaculata) California Kingsnake (L. getula californiae) Florida Kingsnake (L. getula floridana) Eastern Kingsnake (L. getula getula) Speckled Kingsnake (L. getula holbrooki) Desert Kingsnake (L. getula splendida) Mexican Kingsnake (L. mexicana mexicana) Mexican Milk Snake (L. triangulum annulata) Pueblan Milk Snake (L. triangulum campbelli) Scarlet Kingsnake (L. triangulum elapsoides) Honduran Milk Snake (L. triangulum hondurensis) Nelson's Milk Snake (L. triangulum nelsoni) Sinaloan Milk Snake (L. triangulum sinaloae) Red Milk Snake (L. triangulum syspila) Milk Snake (L. triangulum triangulum) San Diego Mountain Kingsnake (L. zonata pulchra) Home | Mammals | Reptiles | Birds | Insects | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us |