Species profile
California Mountain Kingsnake
Lampropeltis zonata
At a glance
California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
Confirmed by 915 research-grade iNaturalist observations, with California, Oregon, and Washington the top jurisdictions by observation count.
Notable details
- Its red, black, and white banding closely mimics the venomous coral snake.
- Found at elevations up to about 7,000 feet in California's mountains.
- Adults typically measure 20 to 30 inches in length.
- Extremely secretive and rarely observed despite being fairly widespread.
- Eats lizards, small rodents, and other snakes.
Where California Mountain Kingsnake are seen
Background
Lampropeltis zonata, or the California mountain kingsnake, is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake, which is endemic to North America. It is a coral snake mimic, having a similar pattern consisting of red, black, and yellow on its body, but the snake is completely harmless. Five subspecies are recognized in the U.S., including the nominotypical subspecies, with two subspecies recognized in…
Background excerpt adapted from Wikipedia's California Mountain Kingsnake article (CC BY-SA). Visit Wikipedia for the full entry.
Other reptiles on CatchRules
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.