Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just wondering, does anyone keep/breed Santa Catalina Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis catalinensis)? I'm not looking to buy or anything, it's just that I've never even seen a photo of the species and I never hear it spoken about here. I'm wondering if they look more like California Kings or Splendidas...
-----
- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

1.0 Banded California King
1.0 Mexican Black King
1.0 Goini Kingsnake
1.0 Bay of LA Rosy Boa
2.1 Kenyan Sand Boas
1.2 Rubber Boas

As far as I'm aware, none have been found in many years. None are likely to exist in captivity, and perhaps none exist in the wild any longer. They are described to look like an intergrade between splendida and californiae, and there is some question about their status as a seperate species. Hope this helps.

-Cole

This sin't one but maybe something similar to this?

-----
Todd Hughes

Thanks for the replies.

Also, I'm assuming this species is/was native to Santa Catalina Island in the Channel Islands and not Isla Santa Catalina in the Gulf of California? A lot of sources call the latter landmass "Santa Catalina Island", even though it is an island in Mexico and not the United States, which makes it somewhat confusing.

I have only seen this species called "Santa Catalina Island Kingsnake" and not "Isla Santa Catalina Kingsnake", which is what I'm basing my assumption on.
-----
- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

1.0 Banded California King
1.0 Mexican Black King
1.0 Goini Kingsnake
1.0 Bay of LA Rosy Boa
2.1 Kenyan Sand Boas
1.2 Rubber Boas

It's the Isla de Santa Catalina in Mexico.
-Cole

That would make more sense!
-Phil

Ahh, yes... That would better explain the Splendida influence then (I was wondering about that). A few years ago I also thought the rattleless Santa Catalina Rattlesnake was native to the Channel Islands as well.
-----
- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

1.0 Banded California King
1.0 Mexican Black King
1.0 Goini Kingsnake
1.0 Bay of LA Rosy Boa
2.1 Kenyan Sand Boas
1.2 Rubber Boas

I wasn't even aware that there was a unique ssp. of Ca. King on Catalina Isl. I'm originally from the South Bay of Los Angeles, Hermosa Beach, and visited Catalina Isl. a couple of times in the early to late 80's. I wish I knew then what I know now.
-Phil

It turns out they are actually from Isla Santa Catalina in Mexico and not the Channel Islands as I previously thought as well (I was wondering why they didn't appear on CaliforniaHerps.com). I do know that Santa Catalina Island in California does have regular California Kings, however, but they haven't been genetically isolated from the parent population long enough to be significantly different.
-----
- Natalie
(San Francisco Bay Area)

1.0 Banded California King
1.0 Mexican Black King
1.0 Goini Kingsnake
1.0 Bay of LA Rosy Boa
2.1 Kenyan Sand Boas
1.2 Rubber Boas

I can't wait for Brian Hubbs to FINALLY release his kingsnake book. I'm sure there will be lots of info on the lesser known locals of Lampropeltis. Hopefully his Milksnake book will come out before the Barkers Pythons of the World Volume II! LOL!!!!!
-Phil

I wonder the same thing! He told me the other day that I'd know it was done when he calls and tells me to send a check!

-Cole

He sent me an e-mail saying that he was hoping to have it out by the Christmas of '06, but I guess he had trouble getting the photo's he was looking for. He recently posted on another field herping forum that he's run into other snags as well. Mountain Kings, Kingsnakes, and then Milksnakes are a HUGE groups to tackle, but I'm very appreciative that somebody is willing to take it on. My only gripe is that he's saving the best for last, Milksnakes, and that all three books couldn't come out at the same time! LOL!!
-Phil

I'm sure this common king book will be his best. I'm not sure exactly when it will be out but he's given me a month to send in my photo's of L.A Co. morphs. Don't know if that's when they'll start putting it together or if he's just trying to rush me. LOL

"I'm sure this common king book will be his best. I'm not sure exactly when it will be out but he's given me a month to send in my photo's of L.A Co. morphs. Don't know if that's when they'll start putting it together or if he's just trying to rush me. LOL"

I agree it will his beat and theee best kingsnake book ever writtin.

Is Brian asking you to send his pics on disk or is he accepting email format yet? I could never understand why they have to be on disk or why he just can't download the pics from an email.
-----
"Yeah ya told me, and ya wrote it down too. But how the hell am I supposed to remember!"

i got the same email from him,what,at least 18 months ago,then again late last fall...........??? i am eager to see the book though,as well as the one on milks.
-----
"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