Kingsnakes are a type of colubrid snake that are members of the Lampropeltis genus, which also includes the milk snake along with another four species and 45 sub-species.
Lampropeltis means "shiny skin" (from Latin Lampro, "shine" + Peltis, "skin"), a name given to them in reference to their dorsal scales. The majority of kingsnakes have quite vibrant patterns. Kingsnakes use constriction to kill their prey and tend to be opportunistic when it comes to their diet; they will eat other snakes (ophiophagy), including venomous snakes, lizards, rodents, birds and eggs. The Common Kingsnake genus are known to be immune to the venom of other snakes and are known to eat rattlesnakes (note - Kingsnakes are not necessarily immune to the venom of snakes from different localities.). The "king" in their name (as with the king cobra) references their taste for other snakes.
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This glossary of reptile and amphibian terminology was written and compiled by long time kingsnake.com member Gerald Germany (oldherper). Thanks to Paul Hollander, Jeff Barringer, Bill Love, and Jeff Nichols (shadindigo) for their review, corrections, additions and comments.
