The Florida kingsnake is only found in Florida. They can be many color variations of a cream and brown checkered pattern, which serves as camouflage. Even though they can live in many places, you may not find these great hiders easily.
An opportunistic feeder, kingsnakes will eat anything that is the right size to digest easily- including eggs and even other snakes. They are usually found alone, unless males are fighting over females. When males battle, the winner is the one that successfully gets the other to retreat after pinning its head to the ground. Florida kingsnakes are found in a variety of habitats. They will often warn potential threats, mimicking a rattlesnake's rattle by wiggling their tail in the dry leaves.
Florida kingsnakes will eat almost anything that lives. They do not discriminate between prey that is warm-blooded or cold-blooded. This means that they can be found in just about any habitat in Florida. They are often a secretive snake though, hiding under logs and debris, so you're lucky if you get the chance to see one out during the day!
Kaeli
The scientific name of lampropeltis comes from Greek words translating to "shiny small shield" for the scales on the top of the snake's head.
Florida
Forests, marshes, estuaries, grasslands
3–4 feet long
Small mammals, snakes, lizards, amphibians, birds
Birds of prey, mammals, alligators
camouflage, making tail "rattle" in leaf debris
3–30 eggs per clutch
Least Concern
10–15 years
