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This is a wild caught snake that I happened upon at a zoo/aquarium in Phoenix, AZ last Friday. The bands are much thinner than the Cal Kings I've caught, but the pattern isn't as "scambled" as Desert Kings I've seen. Can you please help a brother out?

Jamison
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King Snake

I should clarify that the banding was much thinner (dorsally) and also mention that it was much more cream/yellow than what I consider a typical California King. Thanks in advance for your help folks!

Jamison

P.S. Regardless of what it was, it was an absolute treat to catch and was extremely laid back for a wild caught snake. As you can see, it took very little time to draw a crowd,(eventually about 30 people) so I used the opportunity to offer a short (5 minute) "seminar" on King snakes. My audience was quite reseptive and appreciative. I then found a zoo attendant to give the snake to, who assured me they would release it away from any high traffic areas.

Looks like a Cal king to me..........they variability in their colors and patterns differs greatly from locality to locality.....some are black and yellowish brown while others are near perfect white and near perfect black.
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1.0.0 Lampropeltis getula holbrooki
0.1.0 Lampropeltis getula californae
0.0.1 Lampropeltis getula nigra
1.0.0 Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
2.3.0 Eublapharis macularius macularius
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus
0.1.0 Gerrhosaurus major major

I would have to agree. I have one with real thin bands that are yellowish.

That's pretty typical for the area (Papago Park). Although not as much as those found in California, the AZ Cal King populations still have quite a bit of variability.
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Diego

SWCHR

Thanks for the replies folks. That's impressive. I'll have to post pics of the one I caught in Southern Utah a couple of years ago. I never would have believed them to be the same sub species. The So. Utah specimen was about the most beautiful Cal I've ever seen, yet the AZ snake was much more well mannered. I could find these all day every day and never get tired of them. I love Kings!