Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Something I find interesting. There seems to be a close association with habitat and the amount of pattern on Black King snakes. There are some exceptions as with just about any wild population of snakes but for the most part those from well drained upland areas tend to be very dark with little or no pattern like this specimen from the Ky knobs.

Here is a look at another Ky specimen. This one from a lowland area with nearby wetlands. Black kings from this type of habitat generally are heavily patterned. My observations in Ky has been this is more related to habitat than anything else such as region for example. Not just a few random observations but rather based on hundreds of kings I have seen over the years. Anyhow, just thought you guys might find this sort of thing interesting. Phil

np

Habitat appears to be a very strong factor in reptile coloration & banding. Even from county to county, marking can vary, as you know.

Also, note that kings on each coast tend to be black & white, and banded. The more interior you go, the more variation you get with color & pattern, and the more likely a solid color will predominate. (And why are black specimens only found in KY in pine forests, and in Mexico in the Sonoran Desert??)

Also, note that with Cal Kings, coastal specimens are light brown & black, usually banded. Desert species are stark black & white, rarely striped. San Diego area produces about 33% striped specimens - go figure!

I'm continually fascinated by coloration & patterns of reptiles, especially snakes.

Don, age 45
Network Technician
Vancouver, WA

Some good points Don. There is certainly some interesting regional variation going on with those kings from out west. I think it would be interesting for someone to assemble an image gallery of all the different looks the wild type kings display from coast to coast. Phil

That thin banded nigra is a real screamer, Phil. Do you have a similar mate for it? I want one of both!
Todd Hughes

That 2nd pic is absolutely awesome Phil!!! Man if you decide to breed those, you have to put me on the list!!!
Brian

>>Something I find interesting. There seems to be a close association with habitat and the amount of pattern on Black King snakes. There are some exceptions as with just about any wild population of snakes but for the most part those from well drained upland areas tend to be very dark with little or no pattern like this specimen from the Ky knobs.
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RATS
1.0 Corn snake "Warpath" (KY locale)
0.0.1 Corn snake (KY locale)
1.0 Black rat snake "Havok" (KY locale)
1.1 Black rat snakes "Reaper and Mystique" (MO locale)
1.0 Albino Black rat snake "Malakai" (Dwight Good stock)
1.0 Everglades rat snake "Deadpool" (Dwight Good stock)
0.1 Greenish rat snake "Rogue" (Dwight Good stock)
0.0.1 Great plains rat snake (TX locale)
1.0 Grey rat snake "Punisher" (White oak phase)(Dwight Good stock)

Good luck and Happy Herping
Brian

I like either the solid black kings or the ones that are very heavily patterned. It wouldn't be a good match as to the county but looks wise this female is similar looking to the big male in the first series of pics. I had thought about breeding them next year but I would prefer to breed county to county or at least the same population. This match up could make for some nice looking offspring though. Oddly enough this female was found in the knobs at a friend of mines property. Most of the kings from that area are very dark and unpatterned so I was surprised to see her there. It goes to show that the amount of pattern and the habitat found in is a definite trend but there are exceptions such as with this snake. I have been hunting the knobs for years though and have seen many kings there yet this is the only one I have seen there that looked like this. Phil

Do it, Phil! Nah, just kidding! Keep it locale specific, but if you do breed some next year, I'd like one, too.
Todd Hughes

That is interesting Phil. Is it that the upland areas are more vegetated ? What about the differing habitats is different ? Any size difference ?

Keith

>>Something I find interesting. There seems to be a close association with habitat and the amount of pattern on Black King snakes. There are some exceptions as with just about any wild population of snakes but for the most part those from well drained upland areas tend to be very dark with little or no pattern like this specimen from the Ky knobs.
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Keith, I would consider both habitats to be heavily wooded with the upland habitat consisting of well drained mixed forests interspersed with hay fields. The lowland areas would consist of bottomland forest, agricultural fields and wetland. As to size, I have seen the full range from both habitats and they seem to be equally successful in each. Here is a pic of another typical upland king. Phil