Mole kingsnake
Conservation Messaging Opportunities
Physical features
A mole kingsnake can be from 75 to 100 cm long
Light/dark brown to reddish color with a row of reddish brown elliptical spots down the entire length of the dorsum. Many specimens are an olive color with indistinct blotches.
Range and Habitat
Range – Eastern and Midwestern USA
Habitat – Farmland, prairies, sandhills, woodlands, and pine forests
Diet: Carnivore
Wild – Lizards, rodents, other snakes
Zoo – Mice and rats
Lifespan
Wild – 10-15 years
Zoo – 14-20 years
Reproduction
Females lay from 3-13 eggs in moist, loamy soil.
Mating takes place during the Spring
Young are about 12- 17 cm long and are often more boldly marked than adults.
Conservation: Least Concern
This species appears to be stable throughout most of its range
Some populations have declined due to intense habitat disturbance.
Interpretive Information
The mole kingsnake is a nocturnal, burrowing snake and is rarely seen.
References
Oguni, J. (n.d.). Mole Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster). Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://srelherp.uga.edu/snakes/lamcal.htm
Mole Kingsnake (Lampropeltis calligaster rhombomaculata). (n.d.). Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://www.wildlifenorthamerica.com/Reptile/Mole-Kingsnake/Lampropeltis/calligaster-rhombomaculata.html
Mole Kingsnake. (2007, October 3). Retrieved January 26, 2015, from http://www.chattnaturecenter.org/includes/wildlife/factsheets/MoleKingsnake.pdf
Updated January 2015