Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi

I got this snake earlier this year, but still have to find out precisely which species i'm dealing with here.

It was bought as a house-snake (Lamprophis) which it is'nt, but i begin suspecting it to be some kind og getula kingsnake but can't seem to find one looking quite like this.

Do you have any idea?

It is a forasious feeder and quite active, the animals are measuring a bit under a meter and are very alert to movements.

A guess made by Keith Hilson is for L. g. california - Chocolate, but he's not sure, and maybe some of you can tell if his right in his guess.

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Regards

Jan Grathwohl

HERPBREEDER.com - The Herpetological database
HERPBREEDER.dk - My private collection

I still think you can't overlook L.inornatus, although it is a little bit dark for the few inornatus I have ever seen.

The head looks wrong for L. swazicus, but the color looks about right.

From that photo, it still looks more Lamprophis like than Lampropeltis like.
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Chris Harrison

Hi Chris

Thats very intersting, i remember this guess was proposed before when i came home with the animal and first showed it on kingsnake.com, but i'm a bit confused about the large diurnal eyes on the animals - is this typical of inornatus? Do you know of any specific characters for inornatus i can look at? The details from Branch Fieldguide don't seem to fit when looking at the pictures
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Regards

Jan Grathwohl

HERPBREEDER.com - The Herpetological database
HERPBREEDER.dk - My private collection

Sorry, but that genus has vertically elliptical pupils. The photo clearly shows round pupils.

~~Greg~~

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Hi Jetzen

What makes you so sure on the species identification? Please let me know as i have used quite some time on fixing this. Any specific signs on the animals that shows it to be california for sure?

And what would this form be called? Anybody ever seen a california like this?
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Regards

Jan Grathwohl

HERPBREEDER.com - The Herpetological database
HERPBREEDER.dk - My private collection

chocolate striped, this would be a good one for Kerby Ross

It don't have a stripe visible in normal light, only faintly soo when you see it more detailed as a picture
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Regards

Jan Grathwohl

HERPBREEDER.com - The Herpetological database
HERPBREEDER.dk - My private collection

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Theres no way that is a Cal King......I don;t think it is a Lampropeltis of any kind in fact.....look at the head shape. Cal Kings have that "no-neck" look to them, and that snake has a distinctly longer head than a King and the head is distinguishable from the neck. I don;t know what it IS, but it certainly ISN'T a Kingsnake.
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-David Beard

www.herpview.com

The scale pattern, shape and color looks like a Lamprophis to me, but the eyes are definitely not right for Lamprophis.....you certainly have me stumped! Its a cool looking snake, that much is certain.
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-David Beard

www.herpview.com

Hi

Here is some new pictures taken today by the friend taking care of them for me.

Especially the one showing the head scalation i can't get to fix with any kind of Lampropeltis (the scale between the internasalia and rostrale confuse me regarding Lampropeltis)

Hope some of you can get more out of these
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Regards

Jan Grathwohl

HERPBREEDER.com - The Herpetological database
HERPBREEDER.dk - My private collection

OK i see an extra scale on top of head i'm still inclined to go with Lampropeltis NOT with Lamprophis though. GOOD LUCK