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I know this probably has been asked before on these forums, my apologies in advance for asking what is likely a long answered question.

My question, simply put, is: What is the difference between milksnakes and kingsnakes. Just what is it that sets one in either category?

I'd appreciate any info, or if you could please point me in a direction where I might find info on this.

Thanks very much,
- Mark
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The problem with common names is that they have are often not applied consistently.

All the snakes in the genus Lampropeltis are referred to as kingsnakes. However, one group of kingsnakes is referred to as milksnakes. Furthermore, one of the milksnakes is referred to as the Scarlet Kingsnake.

So the Scarlet Kingsnake is a type of milksnake, which are types of kingsnake.

So, for members of the genus Lampropeltis we have.....

L. getula - common kingsnake
L. alterna - gray-banded kingsnake
L. mexicana - Mexican kingsnake
L. calligaster - prairie and mole kingsnake
L. zonata - CA mountain kingsnake
L. pyromelana - AZ mountain kingsnake
L. ruthveni - Queretaro kingsnake
L. triangulum - the milksnakes except, of course, for L.t. elapsoides which is known as the Scarlet Kingsnake.

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Chris Harrison

don't know about you but that was very helpful to me. thanks!

Thanks Chris,

That is very clear, how the animals are grouped and differentiated by genus. But part of what I am curious about is whether there is a guideline that puts any one of those animals into it's genus according to some physical traits?

For example, do kingsnakes have certain scale characterisics, or other phisiological characteristics that make them kingsnakes instead of milksnakes? Or, in other words, just what is it about a milksnake that made it merit it's own genus?

Thanks again (I hope I'm not getting annoying here..),
- Mark
.

>>The problem with common names is that they have are often not applied consistently.
>>
>>All the snakes in the genus Lampropeltis are referred to as kingsnakes. However, one group of kingsnakes is referred to as milksnakes. Furthermore, one of the milksnakes is referred to as the Scarlet Kingsnake.
>>
>>So the Scarlet Kingsnake is a type of milksnake, which are types of kingsnake.
>>
>>So, for members of the genus Lampropeltis we have.....
>>
>>L. getula - common kingsnake
>>L. alterna - gray-banded kingsnake
>>L. mexicana - Mexican kingsnake
>>L. calligaster - prairie and mole kingsnake
>>L. zonata - CA mountain kingsnake
>>L. pyromelana - AZ mountain kingsnake
>>L. ruthveni - Queretaro kingsnake
>>L. triangulum - the milksnakes except, of course, for L.t. elapsoides which is known as the Scarlet Kingsnake.
>>
>>
>>-----
>>Chris Harrison

Milksnakes are NOT in their own genus. They are a species (triangulum) within the genus Lampropeltis. There are many different definitions of what constitutes a species, each of them focusing on a different suite of diagnostic characters. These may genetic, morphological, ecological, or other. A genus, such as Lampropeltis, consists of a group of similar species.

Ronald Markell has a list of 7 defining characteristics of the different species of Lampropeltis in his book "Kingsnakes and Milk Snakes" 1990 TFH Pub. ISBN# 0-86622-664-8.

I'd just copy them here, but I'm not sure how the copyright laws would apply. So, look up that book and you'll find what your looking for .
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Ace