Natural Highlights: Common Kingsnake
There are about 34 species of snakes in West Tennessee, some relatively rare or restricted in range, some very common, living obscure, well-camouflaged lives in our midst. The Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis sp.) is among the most frequently encountered snakes of its size in the Mid-south. The Kingsnake, a nonvenomous constrictor, is known for its ability to kill and consume other snakes, including venomous species, in addition to other prey such as rodents.
With the advent of DNA analysis, researchers are finding out that Kingsnakes as a group are more complicated than their colors and patterns alone might indicate, so that what some Memphians are used to calling the Speckled Kingsnake is more likely to be either the Black Kingsnake (Lampropeltis nigra) or a hybrid of the Black Kingsnake and the Speckled Kingsnake (Lampropeltis holbrooki) with is more western range. Shelby County is on the edge of the ranges of both species, which often appear very similar with yellow speckles on a black background. Further complicating the name-calling, some taxonomists consider these to be subspecies, not full species. Suffice to say, they are different, and both the snakes and the science will continue evolving.
For more information on the Common Kingsnake, please visit the following links:
https://www.tn.gov/twra/wildlife/reptiles/snakes/common-kingsnake.html
There are about 34 species of snakes in West Tennessee, some relatively rare or restricted in range, some very common, living obscure, well-camouflaged lives in our midst. The Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis sp.) is among the most frequently encountered snakes of its size in the Mid-south.
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