Pueblan milk snake

Pueblan milk snake

Campbell's milk snake

SUBSPECIES OF

Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Suborder
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli

Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli, commonly known as the Pueblan milk snake or Campbell's milk snake, is an egg-laying subspecies of non-venomous colubrid snake. It is commonly bred in captivity and is found in several color variations. When handled, it can discharge a pungent-smelling exudate from its cloaca as a presumed defense mechanism.

Appearance

The Pueblan milk snake has a tri-color pattern of red, black, and white bands. Adult Pueblan milk snakes reach lengths of 36 to 48 inches. The Pueblan milk snake has a resemblance to the coral snake and this similarity in colour, known as Batesian mimicry, helps protect the snake from potential predators. They can be distinguished from other subspecies due to wide white bands, and frequent black tipping over the red bands. Also, the red in campbelli tends to be especially vibrant and bright compared to other subspecies. Non-morph Pueblan milk snakes always have pure white coloration on their light bands, save for some black speckling.

Distribution

Geography

The Pueblan milk snake is found in southern Puebla, eastern Morelos and northern Oaxaca, Mexico.

Habits and Lifestyle

Pueblan milk snakes are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. They tend to be flighty and nervous when disturbed by humans. They rarely bite unless provoked a large amount.

Diet and Nutrition

Pueblan milk snakes will feed on anything they can overpower. They will consume prey such as mice, rats, birds, lizards, frogs, and other snakes, including venomous snakes.

Mating Habits

Pueblan milk snakes brumate for a period of 3–4 months from November through early March emerging to mate at the end of this time period. Females are triggered in this way to ovulate and produce a pheromone trail which the males follow. The female lays 2-15 eggs 30 days after mating. The juveniles hatch 2 months (55–60 days) later.

References

1. Pueblan milk snake Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pueblan_milk_snake

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About