Reptiles of North Carolina
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NC Records

Lampropeltis getula - Eastern Kingsnake


Photo: ASH
Photo: ASH
Photo: j.wyche
Taxonomy
Class: Reptilia Order: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Subfamily: Colubrinae
Taxonomic Comments: Lampropeltis consists of 27 species of moderately slender colubrid snakes, ranging widely across much of North America, from southern Canada to as far south as Ecuador.
Species Comments: Lampropeltis getula, the Eastern Kingsnake, is one of four Lampropeltis in North Carolina. This species is distributed primarily in the eastern United States, ranging from New Jersey to Florida, west to the Appalachian Mountains. In North Carolina, it is found across the state except in the higher Mountains.

A population of L. getula is known from the Outer Banks, where it has previously been referred to as "L. g. sticticeps". This population was noted for having a lighter dorsal coloration with extensive white blotching on the scales, as well as some additional scalation differences. However, as noted by Palmer and Braswell (1995:184): "the characters considered diagnostic... are present to some degree in individual kingsnakes from nearly all North Carolina populations. Therefore, we believe subspecific recognition of this population is unwarranted." No subspecies are currently recognized, though we do provide separate range maps showing the approximate distributions of the "sticticeps" population because it is listed as a North Carolina Species of Special Concern (see the "Lampropeltis getula population 1" page).

Recent molecular work (Pyron and Burbrink, 2009b) supported the delimitation of L. g. nigra, the Black Kingsnake, as a separate species from L. getula. L. nigra ranges west of the Appalachian Mountains, and records exist on the eastern Tennessee side almost to the border with North Carolina. A possible hybrid individual was found in Swain County, NC in the 1930s (King, 1939; Palmer and Braswell, 1995), but to date, no direct evidence exists that L. nigra range into North Carolina.

The generic epithet Lampropeltis is derived from the Greek words lampros, "radiant" or "shiny", and pelta, "shields", in likely reference to the glossy nature of their scales. The specific epithet getula is derived from the Latin Getulus, referencing the Getulian people of Morocco. This apparently is in reference to the chain-like dorsal pattern, reminiscent of a chain-like pattern used in Getulian culture.

Taxonomic References: Pyron and Burbrink (2009b)
Identification
Description: Eastern Kingsnakes are moderate-to-large snakes with slightly pointed heads as wide as the neck. Their base dorsal coloration is black to dark brown, with yellow to white chain-like crosslines extending the length of the body. The venter is mottled black and white. Extensive white mottling is apparent on the scales of the head and face.
Morphological Features: Eastern Kingsnakes typically have 21 smooth scale rows at midbody. Ventral counts range from 200-222 in NC specimens (Palmer and Braswell, 1995), with 35-55 subcaudals and an undivided anal plate. Head scale counts are typically as follows: 7 supralabials, 9 infralabials, 1 loreal, 2 nasals, 1 preocular, 2 postoculars, and 2+3 temporals. Palmer and Braswell (1995) noted variation in scalation across multiple specimens in NC.

Eastern Kingsnakes have a maximum recorded total length of 208.3 cm (82 inches). Palmer and Braswell (1995) reported a 162.0 cm male specimen from NC. Tail lengths account for approximately 10-15% of total length. Males have relatively longer tails with more subcaudals than females.

Eastern Kingsnakes do not have enlarged posterior teeth or Duvernoy's glands, meaning they are incapable of producing venom. They may bite and expel musk when handled, but generally are harmless to humans and pets.
Technical Reference: Palmer and Braswell (1995); Ernst and Ernst (2003).
Field Guide Descriptions: Palmer and Braswell (1995); Ernst and Ernst (2003); Beane et al. (2010).
Online Photos:    Google   iNaturalist   GBIF
Observation Methods: Eastern Kingsnakes can be commonly found under cover objects or crossing roads during the day.
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Key Habitat Requirements
Habitat: Eastern Kingsnakes occur in most kinds of terrestrial habitats in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain but are especially common near ponds, streams, swamps and other water bodies (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). They also occur in old fields, forest edges, and around old farm buildings.
Biotic Relationships: Reptiles and reptile eggs are the primary food of Eastern Kingsnakes, though some regional variation in diet has been suggested (Godley et al., 2017). Kingsnakes will take essentially any species of venomous or nonvenomous snake that they can capture as prey and will cannibalize conspecifics; other common prey items include lizards (such as anoles, racerunners, glass lizards, and skinks), squamate and turtle eggs, small mammals (such as voles), and bird eggs and nestlings (Brown, 1979; Palmer and Braswell, 1995; Ernst and Ernst, 2003; Groves, 2014). Kingsnakes will use their snout to dig into recently laid turtle nests and consume eggs (Groves, 2014) and have been reported scavenging carrion (Brown, 1979; Durso et al., 2010).

Besides other kingsnakes, documented predators of Eastern Kingsnakes include other ophiophagous snakes (including racers), large bullfrogs, birds (including hawks and owls), and coyotes (Palmer and Braswell, 1995; Ernst and Ernst, 2003).
Life History and Autecology
Breeding and Courtship: Sexual maturity is reached between two and four years of age, when body lengths are larger than 55 cm. Mating occurs in the spring and early summer (March to June).
Reproductive Mode: Eastern Kingsnakes are oviparous and typically lay eggs in summer (June to July) that hatch in later summer or Fall (late July to October). Clutches average approximately 10 white, elongate, adherent, large eggs that average 38 mm long.

Hatchlings are approximately 27 cm in total length, and weigh approximately 6–8 g.
Terrestrial Life History: Kingsnakes are diurnal and can be found active on the surface or under loose cover. They are frequently encountered crossing roads bisecting habitat, and while primarily terrestrial are known to climb, especially in search of prey. Kingsnakes have been recorded in North Carolina in every month, but appear to be most active in the spring and summer; most records are from April to July.

Home range estimates are not known from North Carolina. Published home range estimates for Kingsnakes in Georgia averaged 49 hectares (490,000 m2; Linehan et al., 2010).
General Ecology
Adverse Environmental Impacts
Status in North Carolina
NHP State Rank: S4
Global Rank: G5

Photo Gallery for Lampropeltis getula - Eastern Kingsnake

54 photos are available. Only the most recent 30 are shown.

Recorded by: K. Sanford, C. Griffin
Camden Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Paul Hart
Harnett Co.
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Recorded by: R. Newman; L. Eckart
Carteret Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Sanford
Camden Co.
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Recorded by: Mark Shields
Hyde Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Robert Russo
Alexander Co.
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Recorded by: Lori Arent
Wilkes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Travis McLain
Cabarrus Co.
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Recorded by: Robert Russo
Alexander Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Sanford
Camden Co.
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Recorded by: W. Morris
Wayne Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Kayla Weinfurther
Craven Co.
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Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Paul Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann and Paul Hofmann
Craven Co.
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Recorded by: Robert Russo
Catawba Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Robert Russo
Catawba Co.
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Recorded by: K. Sanford
Camden Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: L. Appling
Avery Co.
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Recorded by: Robert Russo
Caldwell Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Robert Russo
Burke Co.
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Recorded by: Robert Russo
Alexander Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: K. Sanford
Camden Co.
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Recorded by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
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Recorded by: Erich Hofmann
Craven Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Erich Hofmann
Jones Co.
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Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
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Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: j.wyche
Gates Co.
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