The California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
The California Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae) lives in many regions, such as deserts, coastal scrub, woodlands, farm land, forests, fields and riversides. Among pet-snake owners, they are very popular. They usually reach four to six feet as adults. They usually live from 15 to 20 years in captivity, but have been known to live over 33 years. The California Kingsnake is most commonly black with white transverse bands (though yellow bands are recorded in some varieties), with a checkered stomach and black eyes. Kingsnakes usually shed 4 to 6 times a year, at which point they go "opaque". The term "Opaque" means the snake's skin becomes dull and her eyes will turn a milky color. They usually shed in one long piece, which includes their eye scales. Adolescent snakes will shed more than adult snakes because they grow faster. When a kingsnake is preparing to shed, it needs a humid environment to help shed the old skin. While this process is occurring, the snake should be handled as little as possible, as the new skin is not yet mature and could be injured.
This snake is found in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Oregon and northwestern Mexico. It gets the name 'king' because in the wild it eats other snakes, including venomous snakes such as rattlesnakes and water moccasins. The toxins in the venom of these snakes have very little effect on the kingsnake, though if the snake is invenomated many times, there may be harmful effects. It's diet also consists of rats, mice, lizards and frogs.
Kingsnakes are active during the day, mostly at dawn and dusk. However, activity depends on temperature, and during hot spells they are primarily nocturnal. In the wild they will often bask in the sun during the day.