Image courtesy Bryan Mohr http://www.herp.com

Common Name:

Greer's Kingsnake, Durango Kingsnake

Scientific Name:

Lampropeltis mexicana greeri

Size:

Hatchlings: 6 - 8 in.

Adults: 24 - 36 in.

Scalation:

Dorsal: 21 - 25 rows

Ventral: avg. of 202, 198 - 207

Sub-caudal: 60

lnfralabial: 8 - 11

Supralabial: 7

Analplate: Single

Coloration

This animal is best described as having a light silver gray to buff/light tan ground color with restricted white or off white bordered black saddles sometimes with red centers. The nose is always the ground color of the animal with a few minor black or red markings on the head area.

Head:
Normally displays a y shaped blotched that is fairly large in comparison with other species in this group. Head pattern can be as reduced as in the typical L. alterna

Dorsal:
Usually about 33 black or black edged red blotches bordered with white. None of these blotches will be interrupted middorsally.

Ventral:
Whitish with scattered small black blotches. Sometimes a midventral stripe will be present.

Range:

Mountains in the State of Durango, Mexico.

Habitat:

High altitude species that are found in mountainous areas of Durango that are very like the areas where L. pyromelena are found in Arizona.

Prey:

In captivity these animals fair very well on a diet of lab. raised mice. Juveniles sometime require new born pink mice scented with lizards. They tend to be very aggressive feeders once started well. In the wild they feed on a collage of lizards and small rodents as available.

Behavior:

This is a generally non-aggressive species that does well in captivity. It is somewhat secretive and requires a hiding box at all times. They become favorites in most collections, because of their beauty and ease of care.

Breeding:

Breeding in captivity is achieved in the same manner as with all colubrids using the following as a guideline. Towards the end of October cease feeding totally, allowing at least 2 -3 weeks at normal temperature for clearing of the gut. Then gradually reduce the ambient tempeture inside the cage to the lower 50's and maintain for a period of 3 months. Be sure and provide clean water and systematically check animals for general condition and welfare during this period.

There is a school of thought that embraces the belief that the males of this species require lower temperatures to produce large quantities of viable sperm. It has been my experience that the lowered temperatures do increase the number of viable eggs produced by males of this species. We have dropped this species down to 47 - 49 degrees for a period of 4 weeks in the middle of the brumation cycle with good success. If you decide to use these lower temperatures be sure and check on the animals health during that period more frequently and specifically watch for signs of upper respiratory problems.

After brumation and the animals are brought back up to optimum temperature of 78 - 82 degrees, feeding should resume for approx. three weeks and the pair should be placed together under supervision for short periods of time until copulation can be confirmed. An egg laying chamber partially filled with damp vermiculite or sphagnum moss is helpful. Eggs should be removed immediately after laying and placed in damp vermiculite for the incubation period of 58 - 69 days at temperatures of 80 - 83 degrees

NOTE : This species along with L. mexicana mexicana, L. mexicana thayeri, an L.alterna are in question as to their validity and until this can be cleared up from the taxonomic perspective there will continue to be some confusion regarding the actual classification of these animals. Stay Tuned !!

Literature Cited:

Stebbins, Robert C. 1985 2nd edition
Field Guide To Western Reptiles and Amphibians

Cherry, John & Cindy Field & Breeding Notes