Lampropeltis calligaster

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 calligaster
Subspecies: L. c. calligaster – L. c. occipitolineata – L. c. rhombomaculata
Name

Lampropeltis calligaster (Harlan, 1827)
Synonyms

Coluber calligaster Harlan, 1827: 359
Ablabes triangulum var. calligaster — Hallowell, 1856: 244
Lampropeltis calligaster Cope, 1860: 255

References

Harlan, R. 1827. Genera of North American Reptilia, and synopsis of the species. Journ. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 5: 317–372.
Cope, E.D. 1860. Catalogue of the Colubridae in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, with notes and descriptions of new species. Part II. Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia 12: 241–266.
Lampropeltis calligaster at the New Reptile Database. Accessed on 13 sep 2008.

Vernacular names
English: Prairie Kingsnake

Lampropeltis calligaster is a species of kingsnake known commonly as the prairie kingsnake or yellow-bellied kingsnake.[1][2]

Geographic range

It is found throughout the midwestern and southeastern United States.[1]
Description

It is light brown or grey in color, with dark grey, dark brown, or reddish-brown blotching down the length of their bodies. They are capable of growing to lengths of 76–102 cm (30–40 in). They are easily mistaken for various species of rat snake of the genus Pantherophis, which share habitat, and can have similar markings. Some specimens have their markings faded, to appear almost a solid brown color. Juveniles usually have a brown stripe down the back of their bodies. They have two black spots behind the head and smaller black spots down the back on both sides of the stripe.

Behavior

Prairie kingsnakes' preferred habitat is open grassland with loose, dry soil, typically on the edge of a forested region, not far from a permanent source of water. Their diet consists primarily of rodents, but they will also consume lizards, frogs and occasionally other snakes. They are nonvenomous, and typically docile. Like most colubrids, if harassed they will shake their tail, which if in dry leaf litter can sound remarkably like a rattlesnake. They are not typically prone to biting, and if handled will often excrete a foul-smelling musk. When threatened, they flatten and appear to have white spots.

Habitat

They are often found in abandoned structures, underneath logs, debris, and inside of tree trunks. They are typically unseen by people not searching for them due to their secretive nature.

References

Hammerson, G.A. (2007). "Lampropeltis calligaster". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T63826A12719786. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63826A12719786.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.

Lampropeltis calligaster at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 12 October 2018.

Florida Museum of Natural History: Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata
Prairie Kingsnake, Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa