King Snakes - in Florida
King Snakes come in a variety of colors and appearances. There are eight different sub-species of the King Snake but only two of them are seen in Florida. The King Snakes of Florida are the Eastern and the Florida King Snake. The Latin name of King Snakes is Lampropeltis spp. and the spp. for the Florida species is getula getula and getula floridana.
Florida King Snake
The adult Florida Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula floridana reaches a length of 35 to 50 inches. The longest specimens can reach a length of almost 70 inches.
They have a lot of yellowish cross bands and black ones as well. The Florida King Snake is not venomous and bites only very seldom. It is most active during night and not very often encountered by humans.
It feeds on a lot of different types of animals; rodents and sometimes even other snakes. They do however like lizards and frogs as well and they even feed on their own eggs and kinds from time to time. They are immune to rattlesnake venom and have no problems in eating newborn or small rattlesnakes.
Video and Picture
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Eastern King Snake
Eastern King Snakes are about the same size as the Florida King Snakes. The longest found specimens of the Eastern King Snake are however a bit longer than their fellow King Snake species in Florida.
Unlike the Florida King Snake the Eastern King Snake is most active during daytime. It is not very often encountered and its number has been declining since the seventies.
It can be found in many habitats but mainly in the most northern parts of the state, of Florida.
Life Cycle
Some weeks after their hibernation and in the period from February to May, females lays anything from a few to 30 eggs. Hatchlings are 5-8 inches long and must take care of themselves from when they hatch in late summer.
Diet
Kingsnakes are constrictors feeding on all types of other animals. What makes them really special is their ability to kill and eat other snakes. Because of a natural immunity to venom from venomous snakes such as cottonmouths and rattlesnakes they are able to kill these snakes and eat them.