Lampropeltis ruthveni
Lampropeltis ruthveni (common name: Ruthven's kingsnake) is a species of kingsnake in the family Colubridae.[1][3] The species was described by Frank N. Blanchard in 1920 and named after American herpetologist Alexander Grant Ruthven.[3][4] It is endemic to Mexico.[1][3] [5]
| Lampropeltis ruthveni | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Colubridae |
| Genus: | Lampropeltis |
| Species: | L. ruthveni |
| Binomial name | |
| Lampropeltis ruthveni | |
Description
Unlike many of the other Mexican kingsnakes,L. ruthveni has a fairly consistent coloration, consisting of white stripes on red, bordered by black. The red is always very vivid, and the black banding is relatively thick compared to that of the other Mexican kingsnakes. The body can be up to 127 cm long and has a ventral scale count of 182-195 ventral scales. The head is distinct from the neck, and the eyes are distinct from the head, with the eyes having a golden-brown coloration. [5]
Distribution and Habitat
L. ruthveni is found in the Mexican states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Querétaro. It occurs in pine-oak forest and Mesquite grassland, in both semi-humid and arid environments. The species is also known to be plentiful in rocky areas adjacent to crop fields. Elevation ranges from 1,925m to 2,667m. [5]
Diet
In the wild, L. ruthveni is known to predate on rodents, lizards, and other snakes.
Conservation
It is a common species but its abundance is decreasing. It is collected for the international pet trade (sometimes illegally), and also habitat loss (deforestation) is a threat.[1] Its preference for steep rocky hillsides is believed to protect some populations from encroaching agriculture, but the range as a whole is extremely fragmented. [5]
Captivity
L. ruthveni has a fairly stable captive population, with little collection from wild snakes. The albino morph is especially popular amongst captive breeders.
References
- Ponce-Campos, P.; Flores-Villela, O. (2007). "Lampropeltis ruthveni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007: e.T63832A12720383. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T63832A12720383.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- Blanchard FN (1920). "A Synopsis of the King Snakes: Genus Lampropeltis Fitzinger". Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (87): 1-7.
- Lampropeltis ruthveni at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 September 2015.
- Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Lampropeltis ruthveni, p. 230).
- Hanson, Robert; Salmon, Gerard (30 December 2017). "Distribution analysis, taxonomic updates, and conservation status of the Lampropeltis mexicana group" (PDF). Mesoamerican Herpetology. 4 (4): 700–758.
Further reading
- Blanchard FN (1920). "Three New Snakes of the Genus Lampropeltis ". Occ. Pap. Mus. Zool., Univ. Michigan (81): 1–10. (Lampropeltis ruthveni, new species, pp. 8–10 + Plate I, figure 2).
- Heimes P (2016). Snakes of Mexico: Herpetofauna Mexicana Vol. I. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Chimaira. 572 pp. ISBN 978-3899731002.
- Hubbs B (2004). A Collective Natural History of California, Sonoran, Durango, and Queretaro Mountain Kingsnakes. Tempe, Arizona: Tricolor Books. 370 pp. ISBN 978--0-9754641-0-6.