California kingsnake range map. Getula holbrooki are very similar in color to desert kingsnakes but each black scale of speckled kingsnakes has a yellow center. Map courtesy of california herps an approximate range map for the california kingsnake. Smaller isolated populations can also be found in southern central washington and northern oregon.
California kingsnakes are kings because they hunt and devour various snake species including other kingsnakes and even rattlesnakes they are immune to rattlesnake venom. California kingsnakes come in black or brown banded versions with white cream or yellow alternating bands. Most california mountain kingsnakes live in the mountains of california.
These colors also appear in the striped morph of california kingsnakes. It is a relatively small subspecies of the common kingsnake and is found in a variety of habitats. California mountain kingsnakes range from southwestern oregon along the coastal and mountain regions of california and northwestern mexico.
The california kingsnake lampropeltis getula californiae is a nonvenomous colubrid snake endemic to the western united states and northern mexico. Red or another color indicated below the map shows this distribution. The other species is lampropeltis multifasciata coast mountain kingsnakei will follow the two species taxonomy while separating.
Page 2 illustrates naturally occurring aberrant morph california kingsnakes. Snakes of the species or subspecies shown are expected to be found within the illustrated area in places where suitable habitat and conditions occur. Thamnophis atratus atratus santa cruz gartersnake orange.
No subspecies have been recognized yet. The ssar whose list is used by this website has recognized that the species lampropeltis zonata california mountain kingsnake which formerly was viewed as one species with seven subspecies now consists of two species. Thamnophis atratus hydrophilus oregon gartersnake light blue.
Zaxanthus intergrades dark blue. Due to ease of care and a wide range of color variations the california kingsnake is one of the most popular snakes in captivity. Page 1 this page shows to see pictures of the more common banded form of the california kingsnake plus a range map a species description and natural history information references and links to more information.