Desert California kingsnake (Lamproeltis getulus splendida)
Personal Information
Our desert California kingsnake's name is Elvis.
Status in the Wild
These snakes are not a conservation concern.
Habitat
Their range extends throughout the Sonoran, Mojave and Chihuahua deserts, south into Baja and Mexico.
Diet
A powerful constrictor which eats a variety of prey, primarily lizards and small rodents. It has also been known to eat birds, eggs and other snakes, including rattlesnakes.
- Desert California kingsnakes are resistant to venom of the rattlesnakes found in their habitats.
- Because they eat rattlesnakes, they are often domesticated by farmers.
- These snakes can also eat clutches of reptile eggs, which it can detect underground by smell.