Scientific: Lampropletis californiae Spanish: Serpiente rey de California
Diet: Small mammals, other snakes Habitat: Forests, woodlands, chaparral, coastal sage scrub Status: Least Concern
A Royal Snake Kingsnakes of many colors and patterns can be found throughout the country. The Museum’s resident live snake has a brown and white pattern, typical of kingsnakes from coastal California, and is called “Chocolate Phase”.
Can you guess how the kingsnake got its name? Snakes in the genus Lampropletis are called the “kings of snakes” because they eat other snakes. Kingsnakes will eat any kind of snake, including rattlesnakes, whose venom they are resistant to.
