Lampropeltis ruthveni

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Serpentes
Infraordo: Caenophidia
Superfamilia: Colubroidea

Familia: Colubridae
Subfamilia: Colubrinae
Genus: Lampropeltis
Species: Lampropeltis ruthveni
Name

Lampropeltis ruthveni Blanchard, 1920
Synonyms

Lampropeltis ruthveni Blanchard, 1920
Lampropeltis ruthveni — Liner, 1994
Lampropeltis ruthveni — Mattison, 2007: 30

References

Blanchard, Frank N. 1920. Three new snakes of the genus Lampropeltis. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (81): 1–10.
Thissen, R. & Hansen, H. 2001. Königsnattern - Lampropeltis. Natur und Tier Verlag (Münster), 172 pp.
Mattison, Chris 2007. The New Encyclopedia of Snakes. Princeton University Press.
Lampropeltis ruthveni at the New Reptile Database. Accessed on 18 sep 2008.

Vernacular names
English: Ruthvens Kingsnake

Lampropeltis ruthveni (common name: Ruthven's kingsnake) is a species of kingsnake in the family Colubridae.[1][3] The species was described by Frank N. Blanchard in 1920 and named after American herpetologist Alexander Grant Ruthven.[3][4] It is endemic to Mexico.[1][3] [5]

Description

Unlike many of the other Mexican kingsnakes,L. ruthveni has a fairly consistent coloration, consisting of white stripes on red, bordered by black. The red is always very vivid, and the black banding is relatively thick compared to that of the other Mexican kingsnakes. The body can be up to 127 cm long and has a ventral scale count of 182-195 ventral scales. The head is distinct from the neck, and the eyes are distinct from the head, with the eyes having a golden-brown coloration. [5]
Distribution and Habitat

L. ruthveni is found in the Mexican states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Querétaro. It occurs in pine-oak forest and Mesquite grassland, in both semi-humid and arid environments. The species is also known to be plentiful in rocky areas adjacent to crop fields. Elevation ranges from 1,925m to 2,667m. [5]
Diet

In the wild, L. ruthveni is known to predate on rodents, lizards, and other snakes.[citation needed]
Reproduction

L. ruthveni is oviparous, typically laying 6-10 eggs in a clutch.[3]
Conservation

It is a common species but its abundance is decreasing. It is collected for the international pet trade (sometimes illegally), and also habitat loss (deforestation) is a threat.[1] Its preference for steep rocky hillsides is believed to protect some populations from encroaching agriculture, but the range as a whole is extremely fragmented. [5]
Captivity

L. ruthveni has a fairly stable captive population, with little collection from wild snakes. The albino morph is especially popular amongst captive breeders.[citation needed]
References

Ponce-Campos, P.; Flores-Villela, O. (2007). "Lampropeltis ruthveni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T63832A12720383. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63832A12720383.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
Blanchard FN (1920). "A Synopsis of the King Snakes: Genus Lampropeltis Fitzinger". Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (87): 1-7.
Lampropeltis ruthveni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 September 2015.
Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Lampropeltis ruthveni, p. 230).

Hanson, Robert; Salmon, Gerard (30 December 2017). "Distribution analysis, taxonomic updates, and conservation status of the Lampropeltis mexicana group" (PDF). Mesoamerican Herpetology. 4 (4): 700–758.