Prairie Kingsnake
Authored By: Wilson
Lampropeltis calligaster
MOKI
Status
The Prairie Kingsnake is secretive and uncommon rangewide.Description
The Prairie Kingsnake is a moderately large (76–119 cm), shiny, light brown to gray snake. Most specimens have approximately 55–75 small, well separated, reddish brown to brown spots on the dorsum and fainter spots on the sides (Distribution
L. calligaster ranges from Maryland, central Kentuky, western Indiana, Illinois, and southern Iowa, and extreme southeastern Nebraska southward to central Georgia and to the Florida panhandle. Westward the range extends along the Gulf Coast to eastern Texas, Oklahoma, and eastern Kansas. The range is patchy in the Florida panhandle and absent from eastern Louisiana. Disjunct populations occur in several localities in Florida.Habitat
The Prairie Kingsnake is usually abroad nocturnally. Favorite habitats include sandhills, pine flatwoods, Virginia pine, and other upland pine habitats, mixed pine types, upland hardwood forest types and, occasionally, marsh borders, thickets, open fields or old farmland. It is often found under surface objects and in areas with abundant leaf litter.Special Requirements
This snake requires friable soil in which to burrow. Additionally, surface objects, logs, stumps, and leaf litter are usually present in its habitat.Breeding Habits
Little is known about the breeding and courtship of this secretive snake. Breeding occurs soon after winter emergence. The female deposits 5–21 eggs, usually during June or July (Food Habits
The diet of the Prairie Kingsnake includes small mammals, lizards, frogs, insects and small snakes.Management Suggestions
Until further research is conducted on this secretive snake, specific management measures cannot be suggested.Additional References
Blaney 1979; Ernst and others 1985; Ernst and Barbour 1989; Fitch 1978; Mount 1975; .
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Literature Cited
Encyclopedia ID: p2008
