< Back | Name: | Prairie Kingsnake | | Family: | Terrestrial Snakes | | Scientific Name:
| Lampropeltis calligaster | | Description: | Smooth, shiny scales. A brown, brown-gray or tan snake, patterned with darker brown or red-brown dark-edged, saddle-shaped blotches and bands. Top of head usually displays backward-pointing arrowhead mark. Old adults often become very dark. Belly is white or yellow with dark rectangular markings. Young patterned like adults, but more brightly colored. Adults average 30-42 inches in length. | | Range: | Almost statewide, apparently absent east of the White River. | | Habits and Habitat: | Occurs in open forests, pastures and prairie habitats. Active by day from March-October; nocturnal during hot summer months. Mates in spring, lays 5-17 eggs that hatch August-September. A constrictor that eats rodents, lizards and small snakes. |
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Click Photo to Enlarge Suzanne Collins |
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