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Hi, how are you? I´ve a question ; What are the important differences between a milksnake and a kingsnake?,I never can difference; thanks you.

Milksnake and Kingsnake are common names that are applied somewhat consistently to snakes within the genus Lampropeltis. All Lampropeltis are kingsnakes, but most of the subspecies of L. triangulum are referred to as milksnakes. Therefore, milksnakes are kingsnakes.

So you have

Lampropeltis alterna - Gray-banded Kingsnake
Lampropeltis calligaster - Prairie and Mole Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula - Common Kingsnake
Lampropeltis mexicana - Mexican Kingsnake
Lampropeltis pyromelana - AZ Mtn Kingsnake
Lampropeltis ruthveni - Queretaro Kingsnake
Lampropeltis zonata - CA Mtn Kingsnake
Lampropeltis webbi - Durango Mtn Kingsnake
Lampropeltis triangulum - Milksnake except for
Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides - Scarlet Kingsnake(?)

Great system, huh?

I was in the field with a professional Herpetologist on a couple of occasions where we found large Central American "Milksnakes" and his first response at finding one was "wow, a kingsnake".
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Chris Harrison
San Antonio, Texas

it's more than just a difference in name.....i remember reading that one consisitent,defining factor of the milksnakes,lampropeltis triangulum-is in their dentition.their posterior two maxillary teeth are enlarged.....can't really dispute what else was said by chris h. though....and that's a classic example of the problem with common/'vernacular' names,as a standard they just vary way too much geographically.

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"with head raised regally,and gazing at me with lidless eyes,he seemed to question with flicks of his long forked tongue my right to trespass on his territory" Carl Kauffeld

Just a curious question. I'm fairly new to collubrids, and have never personally kept any milksnakes, I do have a question. When you talk about the posterior teeth being enlarged, are you referring to milksnakes as being "rear-fanged"? And so, are any milksnakes venomous? I heard or read in passing (as in I do not remeber the exact source) that some milksnakes are mildy venomous. I am not sure if that is accurate, hoping for an expert opinion. Just curious, thanks.

P.S. Are coral snakes related to milksnakes? They look very simliar, size and shape as well as markings. Thanks again.

milksnakes are undoubtedly non-venomous by the typical meaning of the word,they are fairly advanced constrictors....and while i personally have never examined the skull or dentition of a triangulum,i guess technically you could consider any enlarged teeth to be a type of poorly developed 'fangs'....these days i've heard more and more people describing ringnecks,hognoses,even natricine colubrids(e.g. nerodia,thamnophis,etc.) as 'mildly venomous'...(to answer you,no i've never heard any milks be reffered to that way,nor as 'rear fanged'.where did you see/read this?)....you will hear mention of a duvernoy's(sp.?) gland,as a very primitive,undeveloped venom gland-not sure where exactly this falls between a full-fledged venom gland,as in crotalids,etc. and regular salivary glands-but again milksnakes are not one of the species i've ever heard mentioned as having one......not to mention hognoses' rear fangs(obviously not for defensive purposes-when was the last time you were bitten by a hognose snake?)-are their fangs for subduing toads/other prey?a digestive aid?for counteracting toxic paratoid secretions?i don't know....though all the aforementioned are a far cry from the potentially deadly boomslangs and twig snakes,and i guess in between would be the cat-eyed,lyre,mangrove,night snakes,etc...this sort of brings me back to the problem i mentioned in my last post with common vernacular,and the public perception/understanding of it;at what point is a snake justifiably labeled 'venomous'?what about 'mildly venomous?milks are not-very-related to any of the coral snakes,no more so than they are to,say,reticulated pythons or eastern diamonback rattlers.....different genus,sub-family,and family....the similarity in their appearences could be convergent evolution(they both do share a lot of the same habits/prey/habitat),most say it's mimicry:maybe it could be a result of both.

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"with head raised regally,and gazing at me with lidless eyes,he seemed to question with flicks of his long forked tongue my right to trespass on his territory" Carl Kauffeld

I really cannot remember where I came across that suggestion of milks being possibly venomous. I think it was during a late night surf, and I just happened to glance at an article, and I was curious. I had noticed the enlarged rear teeth, and I believe that is where the idea of possibly being "rear-fanged" (venomous) can from. Thanks for clearing it up, and I know that you cannot trust anything you read on the net. Also, I believe the mimicry of corals and milks is just that, mimicry. Thanks for replying.

Coral snakes are Elapids...related to the Cobras and Kraits.
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