A handsome chain-patterned North American constrictor that hunts and eats other snakes, including rattlesnakes.
Description
A glossy black kingsnake patterned with delicate yellow speckling that traces a chain-link design along the back and flanks. Adults usually reach about 1.2 m. The smooth, oily-looking scales and clean pattern make it one of the most attractive snakes of the American Southwest.
Behavior
Desert kingsnakes are powerful, immune-to-rattlesnake-venom constrictors that subdue other snakes by overpowering them and swallowing them head-first. They are most active in spring and after summer monsoon rains, when prey is most abundant and temperatures are bearable.
Range
Distributed across the deserts and grasslands of west Texas, southern New Mexico, southeastern Arizona, and adjacent northeastern Mexico. They are often found near water sources where rodents and other snakes concentrate.
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