Characteristics:
    A fairly large, more than 4ft, constrictor. They are black with a small white or yellow dot in the middle of each scale. The belly is white to yellow with a black checker pattern. The scales are smooth and shiny giving the snake a glossy appearance.

*Note: There are 2 subspecies in the area. The black kingsnake (L. g. niger) and the speckled kingsnake (L. g. holbrookii). The black kingsnake's dots from a "chain-like" pattern and the speckled's does not.


Habitat:
   Forests, rocky hillsides, and river bluffs are this snake's favorites. Can be seen crossing roads in search of prey in the summer.


Behavior:
    This snake is a powerful constrictor. The common kingsnake is a primarily diurnal species, but as the day grow hot they spend more and more time hunting at night. They mate in the spring and lay eggs in early summer. This is a kingsnake deserving of the name "king". While they eat a wide variety of prey, they seem to hunt out reptiles specifically. They even eat venomous snakes! Like other kingsnakes, they are immune to the bite of venomous snakes.


Personal Remarks:
    I personally feel that this is our most beautiful snake here in IL and in MO. It really is something special to see a full grown adult speckled kingsnake. At one of the locations very frequently visit there is a strong population of these guys and we usually see one or two a year. We usually find them in the summer, right at sunset, when they are crossing the road looking for prey. In my experience these kingsnakes have always been very cooperative. I have never been bitten by one of these except for a very small juvenile that we found one time.