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Home > Species

Gray-banded kingsnake

A species of Kingsnakes, Also known as Davis mountain king snake
Scientific name : Lampropeltis alterna Genus : Kingsnakes

Gray-banded kingsnake, A species of Kingsnakes
Also known as:
Davis mountain king snake
Scientific name: Lampropeltis alterna
Genus: Kingsnakes
Content

Description General Info

Gray-banded kingsnake (Lampropeltis alterna) Photo By viper85 , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Description

The gray-banded kingsnake (Lampropeltis alterna), sometimes referred to as the alterna or the Davis Mountain king snake, is a species of nonvenomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. Some sources list two distinct subspecies of Lampropeltis alterna, as L. a. alterna and L. a. blairi differentiated by patterning and locale, but research has shown them to be morphs of the sam

General Info

Lifespan

15-20 years

Diet

Gray-banded kingsnake, popularly known as the Gray-banded Kingsnake, primarily feeds on small rodents and birds. A skilled nocturnal predator, it also displays a notable preference for lizards and occasional amphibians, exhibiting a varied and adaptable dietary repertoire.

Appearance

Gray-banded kingsnake is a medium-sized snake with a sleek, cylindrical body cloaked in smooth, shiny scales. Its distinctive coloration involves alternating bands of gray-blue and bright orange-red. The snake lacks appendages like wings or horns. Both sexes and all ages generally share the same appearance, with only minor variations in the intensity of their coloring.

Behavior

Gray-banded kingsnake is a solitary, elusive species with a primarily nocturnal lifestyle. It practices ophiophagy, feeding mostly on other snakes. Displaying unique territorial behaviors, it uses scent marking with its cloacal glands. For survival in its natural habitat, it adopts a defensive mimicry, imitating venomous species, to deter potential attackers.

Population

Stable
Gray-banded kingsnake (Lampropeltis alterna) Gray-banded kingsnake (Lampropeltis alterna) Photo By viper85 , used under CC-BY-NC-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Scientific Classification

Phylum
Chordates
Class
Reptiles
Order
Lizards and snakes
Family
Colubrids
Genus
Kingsnakes
Species
Gray-banded kingsnake
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