Eastern Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula (Linnaeus, 1766)    
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Chordata   >   Class Reptilia   >   Order Squamata   >   Family Colubridae   >   Genus Lampropeltis   

Status:

Eastern Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula getula) is relatively well-known for frequently attacking and eating other serpents, including venomous pit vipers, like copperheads. This snake actually has a remarkable resistance to the venom of species they prey upon, and they are powerful constrictors able to dispatch their prey quickly. Aside from snakes, Eastern kingsnakes will eat a wide variety of smaller vertebrates, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians, and eggs (Tennant, 2003). This adaptable snake ranges over a wide variety of habitats, including woodland, open fields, various wetlands and swamps, riparian corridors, and agricultural areas. This is primarily a coastal plain species in Maryland, extending into portions of the piedmont (Maryland DNR site).

There are 150 records in the project database.

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An Eastern Kingsnake in Worcester Co., Maryland (4/25/2009). Photo by Steve Collins. (MBP list)

An Eastern Kingsnake found in Caroline Co., Maryland (4/21/2007). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

An Eastern Kingsnake in St. Mary's Co., Maryland (5/19/2018). Photo by Jakob Cackowski. (MBP list)

An Eastern Kingsnake in Howard Co., Maryland (4/26/2016). Photo by Jim Wilkinson. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Dorchester Co., Maryland (9/18/2021). (c) Aaron Reb, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Aaron via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Wicomico Co., Maryland (4/24/2009). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

An Eastern Kingsnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (11/1/2018). Photo by Tyler Bell. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Wicomico Co., Maryland (4/24/2009). (c) Hans Holbrook, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Hans Holbrook. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Talbot Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) jared satchell, all rights reserved. Photo by Jared Satchell. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Dorchester Co., Maryland (6/14/2023). (c) jonn, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by jonn via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Talbot Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) jared satchell, all rights reserved. Photo by Jared Satchell. (MBP list)

A juvenile Eastern Kingsnake found recently killed by a car on the open saltmarsh in Somerset Co., Maryland (1/20/2013). Specimen was collected for the Salisbury University collection. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A juvenile Eastern Kingsnake found recently killed by a car on the open saltmarsh in Somerset Co., Maryland (1/20/2013). Specimen was collected for the Salisbury University collection. Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Charles Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Danica, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Danica via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Howard Co., Maryland (6/1/2021). (c) ranger duffy, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by ranger_duffy via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Charles Co., Maryland (Date obscured). (c) Danica, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Danica via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

A roadkill Eastern Kingsnake in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (6/13/2013). Photo by Robert Aguilar, SERC. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Somerset Co., Maryland (4/30/2019). (c) Karen Elizabeth, all rights reserved. Photo by Karen Elizabeth via iNaturalist. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Prince George's Co., Maryland (9/27/2020). (c) Benji Beluga, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by Ben Springer. (MBP list)

Eastern Kingsnake in Caroline Co., Maryland (4/30/2021). (c) fwdraper, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC). Photo by fwdraper via iNaturalist. (MBP list)


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