South Florida Mole Kingsnake

Range

The South Florida Mole Kingsnake is endemic to the United States. It is only found in parts of central Florida from Brevard County south to Lake Okeechobee and west to Charlotte and DeSoto counties.

Habitats

They thrive in open areas like fields, barnyards, prairies, farmland, rocky hillsides, thickets, open woodland, Flatwoods, and pastures. Habitats with dry, loose soil and a permanent source of water. Mole kingsnakes spend a lot of time underground and are very secretive. They can also be found in residential areas. They feed primarily on rodents, their diet also includes small mammals and other small animals like bird, lizards and other snakes. The breeding period is at the end of spring to early summer and females lay up to 17 eggs. The eggs are laid underground in the summer and hatch in late summer to early fall.

Identification

The South Florida Mole Kingsnake grows an average length range of 30-42 inches. It has over 75 small, dark blotches down its back, 21 midbody scale rows or fewer, and a network of dark lines on the back of its head. It was formerly considered a subspecies of Lampropeltis calligaster, but recent genetic studies have shown that it is a distinct species.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians