Species profile
California Mountain Kingsnake
Lampropeltis zonata
Identify California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) from a photo — free, unlimited, no sign-up — with the CatchRules iPhone app.
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
Frequently asked questions
What is California Mountain Kingsnake?
California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) is an IUCN Least Concern reptile with specific harvest rules tracked in 1 of 66 jurisdictions covered by CatchRules.
What is the scientific name for California Mountain Kingsnake?
California Mountain Kingsnake is Lampropeltis zonata.
Are there fishing rules for California Mountain Kingsnake?
California Mountain Kingsnake does not currently have published fishing rules in CatchRules' curated jurisdictions. Identification, range, and habitat are still tracked above.
How can I identify California Mountain Kingsnake?
Take a photo with the free CatchRules iPhone app — on-device identification recognizes California Mountain Kingsnake along with ~1,500 other species. No sign-up, unlimited use.
Photo credit: iNaturalist / Wikipedia. Identification reference only — verify regulations with the issuing wildlife agency before retaining a catch.