Lampropeltis triangulum, commonly known as a milk snake or milksnake, is a species of king snake. There are 24 subspecies of milk snakes. Lampropeltis elapsoides, the scarlet kingsnake, was formerly classified as the subspecies L. t. elapsoides, but is now recognized as a distinct species. The subspecies have strikingly different appearances, and many of them have their own common names. Some authorities suggest that this species may be split into several separate species. They are not venomous or otherwise dangerous to humans.
Geographic range
They are distributed from southeastern Canada through most of the continental United States to Central America, down to western Ecuador and northern Venezuela in northern South America.
Description
Milk snakes grow 20 to 60 inches (51 to 152Â cm) long. They have smooth and shiny scales and their typical color pattern is alternating bands of red-black-yellow or white-black-red. However, red blotches instead of bands are seen in some populations. Some milk snakes have a striking resemblance to coral snakes and this mimicry (known as Batesian mimicry) likely scares away potential predators. While both milk snakes and coral snakes possess transverse bands of red, black and yellow, common mnemonics can be used to properly distinguish between the deadly coral snake and the harmless milk snake:
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- Red on yellow kills a fellow. Red on black, venom lack.
Due to many colors of Eastern milk snake (L. t. triangulum), it can resemble coral snake, corn snake, fox snake, scarlet snake and most importantly, the Sistrurus species. Milk, fox, and scarlet snakes are killed because of a resemblance to the venomous rattlesnake. Juvenile milk snakes, which are more reddish than adults, are often killed because they are mistaken for copperheads. There is enough distinction among the five to make the Eastern milk snake fairly easy to identify. Eastern milk snakes also have a light colored v-shaped or y-shaped patch on their neck. One subspecies is melanistic (almost all black).
Habitat
Across the wide range of this species, habitat varies. Typically, milk snakes live in forested regions; however, in some regions they can be located in open prairies. In various parts across its distribution, milk snakes often abide in rocky slopes.
Behavior
Milk snake activity is mostly nocturnal. They are primarily terrestrial and attempt to blend in with ground litter.
Diet
Young milk snakes typically eat slugs, insects, crickets, and earthworms. Adult diet frequently includes lizards (especially skinks), and small mammals. They are also known to eat birds and their eggs, frogs, fish, and other snakes.
Milk snakes are much more opportunistic eaters than the fox snake or corn snake. They have been known to consume a variety of animals including rodents, eggs, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Nevertheless, the diet of an adult milk snake still primarily consists of rodents. They are nocturnal eaters and are often found during the day in old barns and under wood.
An early myth about milk snakes is that they suck cow udders to get the milk. The myth is entirely false, and is discredited by the fact that the milk snake does not have the physical capabilities to suck milk out of a cow. Milk snakes are, however, frequently found in and around barns, making use of their cool and dark environments, and for the easily accessed populations of rodents to feed on. This proximity to barns, and therefore cows, probably gave rise to the myth.
Reproduction
Milk snakes are oviparous, laying an average of about 10 eggs per clutch, although that number may vary by region. The milk snake mates from early May to late June. In June and July, the female lays three to twenty-four eggs beneath logs, boards, rocks, and rotting vegetation. The eggs incubate for approximately two months, and hatch around August or September. Milk snakes typically live around 12 years.
Conservation status
The milk snake is not listed by the IUCN (a wildlife conservation union), but in some areas, they may face significant pressure due to pet trade collection. Because of this species' attractiveness in the pet trade, many subspecies are now being bred in captivity for sale.
Subspecies
Listed alphabetically by subspecific name.
- Guatemalan milk snake, L. t. abnorma (Bocourt, 1886)
- Louisiana milk snake, L. t. amaura (Cope, 1861)
- Andean milk snake, L. t. andesiana (K.L. Williams, 1978)
- Mexican milk snake, L. t. annulata (Kennicott, 1861)
- Jalisco milk snake, L. t. arcifera (Werner, 1903)
- Blanchard's milk snake, L. t. blanchardi (Stuart, 1935)
- Pueblan milk snake, L. t. campbelli (Quinn, 1983)
- New Mexico milk snake, L. t. celaenops (Stejneger, 1903)
- Conant's milk snake, L. t. conanti (K.L. Williams, 1978)
- Dixon's milk snake, L. t. dixoni (Quinn, 1983)
- Black milk snake, L. t. gaigeae (Dunn, 1937)
- Central Plains milk snake, L. t. gentilis (Baird & Girard, 1853)
- Honduran milk snake, L. t. hondurensis (K.L. Williams, 1978)
- Ecuadoran milk snake, L. t. micropholis (Cope, 1860)
- Pale milk snake, L. t. multistriata (Kennicott, 1861)
- Nelson's milk snake, L. t. nelsoni (Blanchard, 1920)
- Pacific Central American milk snake, L. t. oligozona (Bocourt, 1886)
- Atlantic Central American milk snake, L. t. polyzona (Cope, 1861)
- Sinaloan milk snake, L. t. sinaloae (K.L. Williams, 1978)
- Smith's milk snake, L. t. smithi (K.L. Williams, 1978)
- Stuart's milk snake, L. t. stuarti (K.L. Williams, 1978)
- Red milk snake, L. t. syspila (Cope, 1889)
- Utah milk snake, L. t. taylori (W.W. Tanner & Loomis, 1957)
- Eastern milk snake, L. t. triangulum (Lacépède, 1788)
References
External links
- Milk Snake, Reptiles and Amphibians of Iowa