| 1 | Scarlet kingsnake |
Location: US southeast.
An extremely common kingsnake in Florida, which lives in moderate to sparse woodlands, where it likes to bury itself in the soft floor. Scarlet kingsnakes have a particular tendency to hide beneath strips of rotting bark on old pine trees.
Like all kingsnakes, Lampropeltis elapsoides is completely harmless to humans. They’re famously a mimic of the deadly eastern coral snake, and are the subject of a nursery rhyme: red touches black, venom lack, red touches yellow, kill a fellow. This refers to the stripes, and while it doesn’t apply outside the USA, it does work in Florida. Scarlet kingsnakes have one of the most specialised diets of the family, as 74% of their diet consists of skinks. They particularly eat two species: the ground skink and southeastern five lined skink. Another 15% comes from snakes, while skink eggs and a mouse were also detected.
This is also the shortest kingsnake on our list (and in the whole family), at a normal range of 40-50cm. The longest of all time measured just 68.6cm. Scarlet kingsnakes are most abundant in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, but have scattered sightings in Virginia and Louisiana.
| 2 | Desert kingsnake |
Location: US far south.
This species is found in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, and also a swathe of northern Mexico. Sightings of this kingsnake are plentiful around Tucson and San Antonio alike. Despite the name, desert kingsnakes (Lampropeltis splendida) avoid bone dry spots, and prefer areas with plentiful wispy grass and vegetation. This species is far longer than the scarlet kingsnake, reaching a record length of 152.4cm.
Desert kingsnakes prey largely on other snakes, and one confirmed species is the checkered garter snake (Thamnophis marcianus). They’re well capable of eating horrendously venomous species, such as the Sonoran coral snake (Micruroides euryxanthus), which has a locked and loaded arsenal of neurotoxins. Other snakes in their diet include the plains black-headed snake, great plains ratsnake and western ratsnake. Desert kingsnakes are a friend of ranchers in their native lands, and they often view them as a boon, hoping to reduce more dangerous snakes.
This is a snake of many morphs. Black and yellow are the main colours, yet the exact positioning constantly varies. A large proportion are black with thin yellow bands, a few are nearly full black, while in others the yellow beats back the forces of darkness. One discovered in Arizona in 2016 had a thin yellow stripe down its spine.
| 3 | Arizona mountain kingsnake |
Location: southern US, far northern Mexico.
This kingsnake inhabits four states: Arizona, Utah, eastern Nevada, and extreme western New Mexico. This is a species of sky island mountain ranges, residing at altitudes above 910 metres and up to 2740 metres. They can be found in chaparral, conifer forests and juniper woodlands, avoiding scorched deserts and preferring areas with plenty of vegetation to get lost in. Within these habitats, the best place for an avid reptile enthusiast to find them is by streams.
Because of their mountainous ways, their range is discontinuous, yet Arizona mountain kingsnakes (Lampropeltis pyromelana) are a plentiful species. This kingsnake is intermediate in length, reaching an all time record of 108.8cm. Research on their diet is lacking, but they’ve been confirmed to feast on bats, specifically the longlegged myotis bat (Myotis volans). There’s also lizards such as Yarrow’s spiny lizard, and like other kingsnakes, they defeat their prey using constriction.
Arizona mountain kingsnakes are recognisable by their far thinner, and more numerous bands. They also have a snowy white face, rather than red for the scarlet kingsnake.
| 4 | Black kingsnake |
Location: eastern US.
This dark kingsnake lives only east of the Mississippi river. It covers a large swathe of territory, particularly in Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois, but also Alabama and Mississippi. It’s also found in northwest Georgia, while failing to get anywhere near Florida.
Black kingsnakes (Lampropeltis nigra) are a long version, reaching a record of 183cm. They appear in a variety of locations, including farmsteads, forests, woodlands, pasture fields, and even suburban areas. They eagerly climb trees, but are strong swimmers and are often found close to rivers. Black kingsnakes have similar colouring to desert kingsnakes, but the key ID sign is that the yellow is more abundant on their flanks, gaining in strength the further down you travel. This snake is non-venomous, but may bite aggressively if picked up.
This kingsnake has a varied diet, including lizard eggs, mammals, birds and other snakes. This species also contained one of the greediest snakes ever. A black kingsnake was captured in De Soto National Forest in Mississippi in June 2010. During transportation back to base, it regurgitated a whole scarlet snake, an Agkistrodon snake (cottonmouth family), followed by several east diamondback rattle segments.
| 5 | Prairie kingsnake |
Location: central USA.
A kingsnake of more open areas, rather than claustrophobic forests. Prairie kingsnakes are most common in spacious grassland with soft soils, often on the edge of a forest. They also appear in pastureland, and commonly hide under logs and debris, staying hidden from predators. This is a relatively fossorial kingsnake, preferring to spend many hours of the day underground. They lack an adapted snout for effortless burrowing, but have a sixth sense for preexisting tunnel burrows.
Lampropeltis calligaster is one of the most heavily mammal-eating kingsnakes. A 2019 study examined 1337 members gathered from museum collections around the US. Their prey consisted of 69.8% mammals, 24.3% lizards, and 1.2% birds. This is a species of several states: Texas, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, inhabiting nowhere west of Texas. They’re missing from east coast states like Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina.
The largest prairie kingsnake of all time was found in Edmonson County, Kentucky, on May 16th 2005. It was found under a large piece of sheet metal, and measured 143cm. Its weight was 673.6 grams.
| 6 | Mole kingsnake |
Location: eastern USA.
A very close relative of the prairie kingsnake, but found only east of the Mississippi river. Mole kingsnakes (Lampropeltis rhombomaculata) reach a maximum of 119.4cm (76.2–101.6 cm is typical), and inhabit Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and the Florida panhandle. This is another underground kingsnake, and they’re often uncovered by ploughs ripping up farmland. Pasture is a common hangout for the mole kingsnake, as are disused agricultural fields, spacious pine woodlands, and even fields within urban areas.
Like the prairie kingsnake, their diet is mainly mammals. A 1979 study from the Carolinas found 12 prey from 6 mole kingsnake stomachs. One was a fellow snake, the rough green snake. But the remaining 11 were mammals, one unidentified, and ten eastern meadow voles. Mole kingsnakes are themselves swallowed greedily by eastern kingsnakes.
With their dull brown colours, this is one of the most recognisable kingsnakes. At birth, they’re a light brown-yellow with distinct orange blotches, but with age, they darken so that the blotches are absorbed and disappear. Most adults are patternless.
| 7 | Speckled kingsnake |
Location: central USA.
The speckled kingsnake (Lampropeltis holbrooki) lives in Texas, Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas, and has a large overlap with the prairie kingsnake. This species has the same yellow-black colouring as the desert kingsnake. Yet it nearly always has a speckled pattern, which extends to their face, with only the belly being consistently paler (either cream or yellow).
Though typically 90-122cm, the speckled kingsnake has an all time record of 183cm. Like any snake, they can well exceed the norm if they live in a bountiful oasis of prey their entire life. Moisture is the key for this kingsnake. They avoid desert or bone dry areas and are more commonly found in streams than other kingsnakes. A luscious grassy field by a woodland is a top place to find them. When frightened, speckled kingsnakes won’t hesitate to bite, including when picked up. They commonly vibrate their tail like a rattlesnake, making a buzzing if it’s resting in leaf litter.
This species is a proper snake guzzler, as at least 18 species have been recorded in its diet. These include the coachwhip, timber rattlesnake, copperhead, rough earth snake, and brown watersnake. In 2016, one was gruesomely killed by a lawnmower in Missouri, revealing a Dekay’s brown snake poking out of its stomach.
| 8 | California mountain kingsnake |
Location: California, Oregon, extreme southern Washington, and Baja California.
A kingsnake reaching a maximum of 117.5cm. Lampropeltis zonata lives in the far western USA, and has the classic coral snake mimicking pattern. Everyone’s favourite rhythm works in California, as this harmless snake has no red touching yellow, while plenty of red touching black.
California mountain kingsnakes mainly live in mountains, one of their hotspots being Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada. They’re found in coniferous forest, pine-oak woodlands, chaparral and sage shrublands, usually in areas with plenty of rotting logs and rocks exposed to the sun, so that they can while away the hours basking in the warmth.
A 2003 study assessed 51 prey found inside wild California mountain kingsnakes. It revealed this to be a mainly reptile-eating kingsnake, unlike the prairie or mole kingsnakes, which prefer mammals. The diet consisted of 72.5% lizards, 11.8% lizard eggs, 11.8% mammals, and 3.9% birds. 88% of the prey was ingested headfirst. Species detected included the tiger whip-tailed lizard, western fence lizard, southern alligator lizard, Gilbert’s skink and water shrew.
Meanwhile, one of their natural enemies is the fox. In April 2015, on Santa Catalina Island, a fox ran over to a California mountain kingsnake, bit its body, shook the snake around, and ran off into the bushes. It then consumed the snake over 1 gluttonous hour.
| 9 | Grey-banded kingsnake |
Location: extreme south.
This kingsnake lives in remote desert locations, far from the comfort of Florida or Illinois. They’re found in just two states: Texas and New Mexico, and a large swathe of northern Mexico. This species has a current record of 146.7cm, and they’re easily one of the most recognisable Lampropeltis species, with their large circular red blotches, and grey scales with almost blue tinges. They also have protuberant eyes with a silver iris, and a head more distinct from the neck rather than continuing smoothly.
Lampropeltis alterna is one of the most dry-loving kingsnakes, favouring arid, rocky landscapes, with heavy amounts of dry shrubs. In the US, this species ranges from 384 metres, to 1860 metres in the Davis Mountains of Texas. The most northerly record is 2 miles north of the El Paso Gap, in New Mexico.
This kingsnake has some of the scarcest diet research, but one grey-banded kingsnake near Panther Canyon, Texas had 5 round bulges in its stomach. It soon regurgitated 5 eggs, one of which contained a baby scaled quail (Callipepla squamata). Other confirmed prey include crevice spiny lizards, canyon lizards, and southern prairie lizards. Reptiles seem to be favourite, which makes sense for a snake of arid, rocky realms.
| 10 | California kingsnake |
Location: southwestern USA.
This species controls the Californian lowlands, whereas the Californian mountain kingsnake controls the mountains. Lampropeltis californae also inhabits southern Oregon, western Nevada and western Arizona, but it’s the west coast of California where they’re absolutely everywhere, including around major cities like San Diego. This species is easy to find, with flexible habitats ranging from grassland to woodland chaparral to semi desert. Like a dog, you can read their mood via their tails – a twitchy tail indicates nervousness.
California kingsnakes have a well balanced diet, according to a 2018 study. Scientists gathered 2662 museum specimens and analysed their stomach contents. They found 447 identifiable prey items, and mammals and snakes tied for first place, at 29% each. 25% were lizards, 11% birds, 5% reptile eggs and 1% amphibians. 7% of their total prey was rattlesnakes, with Pacific rattlesnakes recorded 17 times and sidewinders 3 times.
The record length was over 2 metres, recorded on Islas Angel de la Guarda, Baja California. The typical adult length is 76-107cm, which beats the maximum record for scarlet kingsnakes (68.6cm).