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Prairie kingsnake

Lampropeltis calligaster calligaster

Photo by Aaron_G
Published on Project Noah
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36.7473, -95.9808

Field Notes

Description:

It has a tan or brownish dorsal color with around 60 dark blotches, edged with black, in a row down the middle of the back and smaller dark blotches alternating with the dorsal blotches along both sides. The spaces between the large blotches are about as big as the blotches. In some older individuals, the ground color darkens and obscures the blotches down the back. Young and most adults have a small rear-projecting spear point on the head. The belly is yellow to whitish with square, brown blotches. A prairie kingsnake has a single anal plate and the scales are smooth. The adult mlae is larger than the adult female. (information from "A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Oklahoma")

Habitat:

Farmland, prairies, pastures, fields, and open woodlands

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