California Mountain Kingsnake
Lampropeltis zonata
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassSquamata
- FamilyColubridae (Colubrid Snakes)
- GenusLampropeltis (Kingsnakes and Milk Snakes)
- SpeciesLampropeltis zonata (California Mountain Kingsnake)
About the California Mountain Kingsnake
The California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) is a species of nonvenomous colubrid snake that is endemic to North America. It is a coral snake mimic, having a similar pattern consisting of red, black, and yellow on its body, but the snake is completely harmless. Seven subspecies are recognized, with five found in the U.S., including the nominotypical subspecies, and two in Mexico.
The California mountain kingsnake is endemic to western North America. It ranges from extreme southern Washington state, where it has a disjunct population, through Oregon and California, to northern Baja California. The majority of its range lies within the state of California, which is the reason for its common name.
California mountain kingsnakes have a banded pattern that consists of red, black, and white crossbands. The bands are always arranged in the same order with each red crossband being surrounded by two black crossbands, forming what is called a triad. Each triad is separated from the next triad by a white crossband, or in some examples by a cream or yellow crossband. Some individuals may have reduced amounts of red pigment, and rare individuals... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of California Mountain Kingsnake in Channel Islands National Park
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Channel Islands National Park
California King Snake
Lampropeltis californiae
Gopher Snake
Pituophis catenifer
Striped Racer
Masticophis lateralis
Ringneck Snake
Diadophis punctatus
Two-striped Garter Snake
Thamnophis hammondii
Coachwhip
Masticophis flagellum
North American Racer
Coluber constrictor
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Thamnophis elegans
Common Garter Snake
Thamnophis sirtalis
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yosemite National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a California Mountain Kingsnake in Channel Islands National Park?
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a California Mountain Kingsnake sighting in Channel Islands National Park, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see California Mountain Kingsnake in Channel Islands National Park?
June has the highest sighting rate for California Mountain Kingsnake in Channel Islands National Park in our monthly data.