California King Snake

Lampropeltis californiae

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This medium-sized snake with smooth scales is most often a striking black with thin white bands down its entire body. On average, it reaches 2.5-3.5 feet in length, but c…

California King Snake — Black and white form

How to identify

This medium-sized snake with smooth scales is most often a striking black with thin white bands down its entire body. On average, it reaches 2.5-3.5 feet in length, but can rarely exceed 4 feet. It often has a few white spots on its head and neck, and unique white markings on its face. It's head is only slightly wider than its neck, and it narrows towards the snout. The ventrum has wider white bands that are more equal in size to the black bands.

Range

Wide-ranging throughout California, Arizona, and partially into the neighboring states of Utah, Nevada, and Oregon. Range also extends south through the Baja Peninsula and northwestern Mexico. It also may be found in southwest Colorado or northwest New Mexico. It is very common in captivity.

Habitat

This ground-dwelling species can be found in many different habitats, including deserts, chaparral, woodlands, grasslands, marshes, farmland, and suburban areas.

Variations

Most common variation is liver-brown coloration instead of black. It is not uncommon to find wild morphs with longitudinal stripes down the body, rather than bands across the body. Some individuals have a random mixture of bands, longitudinal stripes, and spots. In captivity, many color morphs have been intentionally created through selective breeding.

Similar species

Most similar to the eastern kingsnake (*Lampropeltis getula*) which is found on the east coast, or the more speckled desert kingsnake (*Lampropeltis splendida*) which is limited to the desert southwest. The coast mountain kingsnake (*Lampropeltis multifasciata*) and California mountain kingsnake (*Lampropeltis zonata*) overlap in range and typically have orange bands, but those can be lacking in some individuals, making them look very similar to the California kingsnake.