Kingsnake / Milksnake
California Mountain Kingsnake
HarmlessLampropeltis zonata
3 photographs of the California Mountain Kingsnake. © Parsa Fard.
The California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Also called
- Kingsnake / Milksnake
- Family
- Colubridae
- Size
- 2–5 ft.
- Habitat
- Forests, farmland, grasslands, and suburbs.
- Behavior
- Powerful constrictors that eat other snakes — including venomous ones; gentle but may musk or vibrate the tail.
- Identify
- Smooth, glossy scales with bold bands or chain-like patterns. Milksnakes mimic coral snakes, but red touches black.
About the California Mountain Kingsnake
The California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake that is endemic to North America. It is a coral snake mimic, having a similar pattern consisting of red, black, and yellow on its body, but the snake is completely harmless. Seven subspecies are recognized, with five found in the U.S., including the nominotypical subspecies, and two in Mexico.
Geographic range
The California mountain kingsnake is endemic to western North America. It ranges from extreme southern Washington state, where it has a disjunct population, through Oregon and California, to northern Baja California. The majority of its range lies within the state of California, which is the reason for its common name.
Description
California mountain kingsnakes have a banded pattern that consists of red, black, and white crossbands. The bands are always arranged in the same order with each red crossband being surrounded by two black crossbands, forming what is called a triad. Each triad is separated from the next triad by a white crossband, or in some examples by a cream or yellow crossband. Some individuals may have reduced amounts of red pigment, and rare individuals may have virtually no red bands at all. One population from Isla Todos Santos always lacks the red crossbands and is instead uniformly banded with black and white, similar in appearance to the related California kingsnake.
Habitat
As its common name suggests, the California mountain kingsnake is found mostly in the mountains within its geographic range.
Subspecies
The following subspecies are recognized:
Lampropeltis zonata multicincta (Yarrow, 1882)
Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata (Bocourt, 1886)
Lampropeltis zonata parvirubra Zweifel, 1952
Lampropeltis zonata pulchra Zweifel, 1952
Lampropeltis zonata zonata (Lockington, 1876 ex Blainville, 1835)
Lampropeltis zonata agalma (Van Denburgh & Slevin, 1923)
Lampropeltis zonata herrerae (Van Denburgh & Slevin, 1923)
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: California Mountain Kingsnake
- Is the California Mountain Kingsnake venomous?
- No. The California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the California Mountain Kingsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The California Mountain Kingsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the California Mountain Kingsnake dangerous?
- The California Mountain Kingsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the California Mountain Kingsnake live?
- The California Mountain Kingsnake has verified records in 2 countries, including United States of America, Mexico. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the California Mountain Kingsnake?
- Smooth, glossy scales with bold bands or chain-like patterns. Milksnakes mimic coral snakes, but red touches black.
- How big does the California Mountain Kingsnake get?
- 2–5 ft.
Where it is found
By U.S. state
Snakes it is confused with
Texas CoralsnakeVenomousA harmless mimic of the US coral snake. On US coral snakes red bands touch yellow; on these mimics red usually touches black. This color rule is reliable ONLY in the United States — it does not hold for coral snakes elsewhere.
California Mountain Kingsnake vs Texas Coralsnake→
More Colubridae snakes
Eastern MilksnakeLampropeltis triangulum
California King SnakeLampropeltis californiae
Speckled KingsnakeLampropeltis holbrooki
Eastern KingsnakeLampropeltis getula
Black KingsnakeLampropeltis nigra
Prairie KingsnakeLampropeltis calligaster
Western MilksnakeLampropeltis gentilis
Desert KingsnakeLampropeltis splendida
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Lampropeltis
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Lampropeltis zonata
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.