Well, Nuevo Leon Kingsnake's(Variable Kings) are basically in the same "complex" as Gray-Banded Kings, but "Gray-Bands" are actually now fairly recently classified as their own species(Lampropeltis alterna), whereas they used to be taxonomically classified as one of the three mexicana complex, and scientifically known as Lampropeltis mexicana alterna, with two phenotypes(looks), blairi, and alterna, with variations also being intermediate between the two. The Durango Mountain King(Lampropeltis mexicana greeri) is also another of the three within this complex, and they are ALL very closely related.



The name "Variable King" is quite fitting for these animals, as even several animals from within the same given clutch can have very different looks, as the photo also suggests, they can even come in a solid black melanistic form.



Tom was correct in his ID, and those are indeed Variable Kings(Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri), otherwise known as Nuevo Leon Kingsnakes because of their natural range in and Nuevo Leon, Mexico and the surrounding areas.





best regards, ~Doug
-----
"Better to be silent and thought a fool, than to open mouth and remove any doubt!"

[ Hide Replies ]

• kingsnake id - rangeramy, Tue May 27 16:53:22 2008
• RE: kingsnake id - herpsltd, Tue May 27 17:13:11 2008
• RE: kingsnake id - rangeramy, Tue May 27 17:24:51 2008
• RE: kingsnake id - DMong, Tue May 27 17:53:15 2008
• RE: kingsnake id - rangeramy, Tue May 27 19:01:41 2008
• RE: kingsnake id - chrish, Thu May 29 07:31:56 2008
• RE: kingsnake id - DMong, Thu May 29 10:30:42 2008
• typo!,...meant instability.....n/p - DMong, Thu May 29 16:07:35 2008
• GRRR!!....LOL! - DMong, Tue May 27 17:59:54 2008
• RE: kingsnake id - Orocosos, Tue May 27 22:11:23 2008