Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri

Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri, currently known as lampropeltis leonis, or Nuevo León kingsnake, variable kingsnake, or Thayer's kingsnake, is a nonvenomous snake belonging to the family Colubridae.[2][3] Thayer's kingsnake is a subspecies of the mexicana group of the genus Lampropeltis.[2] Thayer's kingsnake is endemic to the eastern slopes of the Mexican plateaus in Tamaulipas, Mexico.[2] Thayer's kingsnake is known for producing offspring typically displaying three[lower-alpha 1] main variable phases within the same clutch from similar-coloured patterned parents.[4][2][5]

Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri
Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri in the melanistic phase
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Lampropeltis
Species:
L. mexicana
Subspecies:
L. m. thayeri
Trinomial name
Lampropeltis mexicana thayeri

Appearance

The dorsal body scales of Thayer's kingsnake are primarily either red and black or solid black although their scale color patterns are highly variable.[6]

Range

Thayer's kingsnake is found on the eastern slopes of the Mexican plateaus in Tamaulipas, Mexico.[2]

Behavior

The behaviour of Thayer's kingsnake is similar to many of the other kingsnake species. Thayer's kingsnake is typically non-aggressive[2] and reclusive and does well in captivity. Thayer's kingsnake requires a hiding place at all times and often prefers to hide in such.[2]

Diet

Thayer's kingsnake kills its prey by constriction and prefers a diet of lizards in the wild although they have been known to feed on rodents, frogs and other snakes.[2] In captivity, Thayer's kingsnakes can be weaned onto rodents as their main food source.

Reproduction

Thayer's kingsnakes are oviparous typically laying between six–14 eggs up to twice per year.[7] Like many other colubrids, Thayer's kingsnakes usually mate in early spring following a winter cooling period.

Notes
  1. The fourth phase, "melanistic" or "black", is uncommon but may appear in a clutch.[4]

References
  1. Lampropeltis mexicana at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 12 October 2013.
  2. Cherry, John. "Thayer's Kingsnake". kingsnake.com. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  3. Wrobel, Murray (2004). Elsevier's Dictionary of Reptiles. Elsevier, 2004. p. 758. ISBN 9780080459202.
  4. Wallis, Andrew. "The Thayer's or Variable kingsnake", Blue Lizard Reptiles. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  5. Applegate, Bob. "Thayer's Kingsnake". Applegate Reptiles. Archived from the original on 1 November 2000. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  6. Gehlbach, Frederick R. (1967). "Lampropeltis mexicana". Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (PDF). pp. 55.1–55.2. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  7. Wallis, Andrew. "The Thayer's or Variable kingsnake". Retrieved 6 October 2013.
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