Red Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum syspila)

Red Milk Snake
Photograph by Mike Pingleton. GNU Free Documentation License. (view image details)

RED MILK SNAKE FACTS

Description
The Red Milk Snake is a tri-colored snake with broad red saddle-shaped markings bordered with black separated by pale bands. There are usually between 19 and 30 red or red-brown saddle shaped blotches edged with black, these blotches extend down the sides. The pale background color is white, pale gray, cream, or tan. There is often a row of black spots along the lower sides. The saddle markings become complete rings around the tail. Juveniles have similar pattern to adults but are often more brightly colored. The underside is white with black checker pattern. The head usually has a large red blotch edged in black. The snout, lips and chin are cream.

Size
length 45cm - 70cm

Environment
rocky hillsides, rocky pastures, rocky woodland clearings. Snakes Spends most of its time underground amongst rock crevices and animal burrows.

Food
feeds on lizards, small snakes, rodents. Prey is killed by constriction.

Breeding
Breeding occurs in spring. Females lay from 1-12 eggs in June and July which hatch from mid-August to September

Range
eastern Kansas, Missouri, south Illinois, south west Indiana, Kentucky, west Tennessee, south Iowa, north Arkansas.

Notes
When disturbed, they will often thrash around and may bite and excrete a foul smelling musk. Red Milk Snakes can be kept in captivity and wild caught adults settle down fairly easily.

Classification

Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata (Serpentes)
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Lampropeltis
Species:	triangulum syspila
Common Name:	Red Milk Snake

Relatives in same Genus
  Gray-banded Kingsnake (L. alterna)
  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)
  Milk Snake (L. triangulum triangulum)
  San Diego Mountain Kingsnake (L. zonata pulchra)

  HOME
  ANIMAL LISTS
   Mammals
   Reptiles
   Birds
   Insects

REPTILES
Crocodiles and Turtles

Snakes

Lizards