Schmidt Kingsnakes and Milksnakes

The Genus Lampropeltis
1. Auflage 2024
ISBN: 978-3-7583-3787-1
Verlag: BoD - Books on Demand
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 240 Seiten

The kingsnakes and milksnakes of the Lampropeltis genus have been among the most popular snakes in terrariums for many years. Their manageable body size, bright colors and comparatively uncomplicated husbandry requirements make most species of non-venomous snakes suitable for beginners in the terrarium hobby. In the past decade, new studies have led to extensive changes in the taxonomic systematics of the king snakes. This book summarizes the currently valid taxonomy of the entire genus Lampropeltis for the first time and thus pursues the approach of promoting the hitherto reluctant acceptance of the use of the valid nomenclature. The author has kept various species of kingsnakes and milksnakes for around 30 years and provides an insight into his husbandry and breeding methods.

I was born in 1970 and grew up in the Westerwald as the only child of an electrician and a doctor's assistant. My hobbies as a child were mainly martial arts and reading. After leaving school, I joined the Rhineland-Palatinate police force in 1991 and now work as a detective. Having been interested in snakes as a child, I started keeping them in 1993 and acquired a lot of specialist knowledge. Over time, other keepers asked me for advice more and more often and so I began to write up my notes in specialist articles. I realized that I also enjoyed writing and so it was only a matter of time before I published my first book. I also continued to pursue my hobby of self-defense and now work as a trainer, course instructor and speaker in this field. In June 2017, my first book on the theoretical foundations of self-defense was published, which will be followed by further works.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Schmidt, Thorsten

Leseproben

II. Species section
This section is the core of this book and is intended to help understand the current systematics within the genus Lampropeltis on the one hand, and on the other to provide the keeper with essential assistance in keeping the respective species. As explained above, the following classification into species and subspecies is by no means equally recognized by all scientists and is the subject of controversial debate among experts. Nevertheless, it is based for the first time on genetic research results as opposed to region-related and phenotypic characteristics and is recognized by the American Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR) and can therefore be regarded as the currently prevailing doctrine. Note on the climate diagrams used: When using the metric system in relation to the Celsius temperature scale, the average temperature value (°C) is always shown in climate diagrams in a ratio of 1:2 to the monthly precipitation (mm per square meter). Taking into account the evaporation values resulting from the respective temperature, the graphical representation of the climate diagrams immediately shows whether the respective month is dry or wet in the natural distribution area. If the temperature curve runs above the precipitation columns, the month is dry. If the curve runs below the precipitation column, the month is wet. From this graphically recognizable correlation, the owner can see at a glance whether his animal prefers dry or humid conditions permanently or in phases. In the imperial system, which shows the average temperature values on the Fahrenheit scale (°F) and the monthly rainfall in inches per square foot, such a concrete conversion is not possible. To make it easier for my English and American readers to read the temperature and precipitation values, I have therefore also included diagrams using the imperial system. For readers in other countries, I have also retained the usual representation, partly because the recognizability of the climatic conditions (temperature in relation to humidity) is more concrete and easier to understand in the context described. The getula complex Lampropeltis californiae BLAINVILLE, 1835 Common name: California Kingsnake The current species name californiae was once the name of the subspecies Lampropeltis getula californiae. On the basis of current knowledge about relationships within the genus, the following former subspecies are summarized under the current species name Lampropeltis californiae: Lampropeltis getula boylii Lampropeltis getula californiae Lampropeltis getula conjuncta Lampropeltis getula nitida Lampropeltis getula yumensis For most keepers, the subsumption of the former subspecies boylii, conjuncta, nitida and yumensis is easy to accept, especially as they were only recognized subspecies in phases anyway, but were mostly regarded as local variants or pattern variants of Lampropeltis getula californiae. More problematic was the indistinguishable assignment of the former subspecies nigrita, which was also assigned to this species after the 2014 revision. The snake formerly known under the German common name Schwarze Mexiko-Königsnatter (Mexican Black Kingsnake) is visually very different from the Californian Kingsnake due to the predominant or often even complete absence of light-colored pattern elements. This unique feature makes completely black animals very popular and often sought-after specimens in terrarium keeping. However, the loss of subspecies status initially made differentiation in the nomenclature difficult. This problem has since been solved by renewed phylogenetic studies with DNA comparisons carried out by KRYSKO et al. in 2017, as a result of which the Western Black Kingsnake, as it is now more accurately called, has been given species status as Lampropeltis nigrita. According to the current IUCN classification, Lampropeltis californiae is not endangered. Populations are stable. Distribution The distribution area of Lampropeltis californiae is one of the largest of all kingsnakes. It extends from northern Oregon southeast through the Great Basin region in Nevada and Utah, from there eastwards to the extreme southwest of the US state of Colorado. In the south, it encompasses almost all of California and Arizona and extends into the Mexican state of Sonora and the entire Baja California peninsula as well as some of the islands in the Gulf of California. Distribution area Lampropeltis californiae and climate diagram (Tijuana, Baja California (Mexico), 29 m (95 ft.) above sea level): The Mexican city of Tijuana on the border with the USA is located relatively centrally in the distribution area of the California Kingsnake. The area is characterized by a seasonally varying steppe climate, with sparse precipitation falling mainly in winter between November and March. On the other hand, there is a very dry phase between May and October, during which temperatures rise significantly. Average temperatures range from 13.0°C (55.4°F) in January to 22.3°C (72.1°F) in August. In summer, the temperature can rise to 27.1°C (0.8°F), but does not fall below 6.9°C (44.4°F) in winter. Description California Kingsnakes are strong, muscular animals. The body length is usually between 100 and 150 cm (39 to 59 inches), although exceptional animals up to 200 cm (79 inches) in total length are known. The dark base color is interrupted by light markings. These occur either as transverse banding in the form of 21-47 light-colored rings or as a single, occasionally interrupted longitudinal stripe along the spine. Depending on the local distribution, the dark base color varies from a dark brown to lacquer black and the light elements can also be yellowish, cream or pure white. A significant coloration feature compared to other kingsnakes is the complete absence of reddish color elements. The head is only slightly separated from the neck. Scale data: Designation Supralabialia Sublabialia Dorsalia Ventralia Subcaudalia Number 7-8 8-11 23-25 213-255 39-65 Living conditions In their distribution area, California Kingsnakes can be observed all year round and at any time of day, albeit depending on the temperature; they avoid both hot days and cold nights. The snakes are extreme opportunists when it comes to their food spectrum. In general, it can be said that they eat all animals that they can overpower and that are not too large to devour. Field studies have documented at least the following prey: Mice, rats, gray squirrels, birds and their eggs, frogs, salamanders, small turtles, lizards and other snakes as well as invertebrates. Special features of keeping California Kingsnakes are relatively uncomplicated to keep, provided that they are offspring that have become accustomed to eating on their own. Some young animals initially refuse baby mice quite stubbornly. However, once they have decided to accept them, they prove to be greedy eaters that grow up quickly. Californian Kingsnakes are among the most robust snakes of all and literature shows that an individual born in captivity lived for over 33 years. When keeping them, it is important to bear in mind that California Kingsnakes often have strong ophiophagous tendencies. They often eat other snakes in the wild and many terrarium keepers have found that they sometimes also regard conspecifics as food. This cannot be attributed to certain aspects such as previous subspecies, but ophiophagy can occur individually and depending on the situation. Portrait of an adult California Kingsnake (desert phase). / Photo: Thorsten Schmidt Field recordings of free-living Lampropeltis californiae (left: San Joaquin County, CA / right: Yolo County, CA). / Photos: Chad M. Lane Different variants of the desert phase / Photos: John Worden (left), Nicholas Hess (right) Drawing variant high-white / Photos: Deborah & John Lassiter (left), Thorsten Schmidt (right) Naturally occurring specimen with longitudinal stripes. / Photos: Nicholas Hess I myself have kept a group of black and white banded California Kingsnakes together for many years and have bred them several times without any losses. A friend of mine, however, who had also kept a pair of the same variety together for several years, discovered one morning that the male had eaten his partner - even though the female had been slightly larger. You should therefore plan to keep chain snakes separately and only put them together for mating, ideally when they are not hungry. California Kingsnakes are similarly individual when it comes to their temperament. Young animals generally tend to be somewhat nervous, often threaten with a vibrating tail and sometimes bite. A typical defensive reaction of California Kingsnakes of all ages is the emptying of the cloaca. In adult animals, there are some that accept any disturbance or handling with stoic calm, but there are also those whose behavior can be described quite well as "lively". Color and pattern variants On the one hand, the appearance of the California Kingsnake is also quite variable in natural distribution...