Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all. First post on the forum and back into snakes after a 6 year break. Had a question from childhood after reading up on the California Kingsnakes.

When I was a kid, I lived in Calabasas, outside of LA. This used to be a pretty open area where folks had horses and such and I would go up in the hills and catch and release snakes. As a child with no real information to go on, I had thought that the red, white and black snakes I was catching were "California Kings". Only later in life, in a pet store in Texas did I realize that I had it all wrong and I was catching something else. Now I realize it must has been some subspecies of Zonata, and I am wonder which? Anyone familiar with the area and have an idea of what I would have been seeing?

As I put my new small collection together, there is a soft spot in my heart for having something from so long ago. Possible?

Thanks! Great forum.

I think I may have found my own answer on Jerry Kruse's excellent site; www.zonatas.com. Nice site sir and after reading the accounts and species distribution it appears that I may have been seeing pulchra. Ventura/mulhuland hwy was the backyard there so I think that would be it.

Any thoughts?

LOL!!! I didnt even read this message until after I answered you. hahahaha.....glad i could help indeed. And glad to have you around. Zonata are special animals, and it's nice to meet other kindred spirit that appreciate them as well. And don't mind the drama on the king forum between me and a couple others......it's a long sad history of personality clash gone wild. LOL.
-----
Jerry Kruse
www.zonatas.com

And God said, "Let there be zonata subspecies for all to ponder..."

Thank you! I think I will be looking at getting one of those beauties in the next year. I sure miss those days up in the hills around LA. There was always some cool type of snake or lizard to watch everyday it seemed.

This is a very contentious forum I have noticed as well. I am on MANY forums on many topics and wow this one is heated from time to time. And I thought my cichlid forum could get prickly!

Happy to oblige my new friend......hope I can help out anyway I can in the future.
-----
Jerry Kruse
www.zonatas.com

And God said, "Let there be zonata subspecies for all to ponder..."

Is L. zonata pulchra...some populations are known in north-eastern Los Angeles county into Ventura County. So if you were "hunting' (LOL) in Calabasas then it would be pulchra (a.k.a. San Diego mountain kingsnake). There are other areas, but I'm being specific to your area.

I grew up in the San Fernando valley and also found my first z in Topanga Canyon circa 1985....and that memory fueled my passion for zonata over the years leading me to work almost solely with L. zonata.

Hope this helps, and kudos on your coming back to the hobby!!

Santa Monica pulchra

Santa Ana pulchra

Laguna pulchra

" alt="Image">
-----
Jerry Kruse
www.zonatas.com

And God said, "Let there be zonata subspecies for all to ponder..."

ooops, I meant north-WESTERN L.A. county...........going north-east would be trekking into extreme parvirubra territory....sorry for the error......it was late last night when I responded.
-----
Jerry Kruse
www.zonatas.com

And God said, "Let there be zonata subspecies for all to ponder..."