Medium-size nonvenomous snakes are known as kingsnakes. They are one of the most common snakes in the United States, and are found in all states except Alaska and Hawaii.
Table of Contents
How do you identify a king snake?
The total length of most adult Eastern Kingsnakes is about 120 cm. These snakes are solid black to chocolate brown, with several white to yellowish crossbands down the back, and a narrow chain-like pattern on the sides. The scales are smooth and dark brown.
Where are king snakes found?
A group of moderate-sized to large snakes are found from southeastern canada to ecuador. Adults range in length from 1 to 1.5 metres, but some have grown to 2.1 metres or more. They are generally dark brown to black in colour, with a black head and neck, and a white belly. They have a long, slender body, which is covered in a thick layer of scales.
The tail is long and slender, reaching up to 30 cm (12 inches) long when fully extended. The venom of the snake is a potent neurotoxin that causes paralysis and death within a few hours of ingestion. It is also highly toxic to mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, reptiles and humans.
What poisonous snake looks like a king snake?
If the red and yellow rings are touching, it is a venomous coral snake. It’s a nonvenomous king snake if they’re not. You can tell the difference by looking at the snake’s tail. A king cobra has a long, thin tail, while a coralsnake tail is longer and thinner.
King cobras and coral snakes are found in tropical and subtropical areas of the world, but they are also found throughout the United States. They are most common in Florida, Texas, and parts of Central and South America.
What happens if a king snake bites you?
Kingsnake bites can cause mild pain and swelling around the bite site like most non-venomous snake bites. The bite wound may take some time to heal, but it wouldn’t cause any further problems, so anyone bitten by a kingsnake should not worry.
Will a king snake hurt a dog?
Even though kingsnakes are famous for making meals of venomous rattlesnakes, they are completely harmless and can be found all over the world. In fact, they are so common in the United States that they have their own national park, the Snake River National Wildlife Refuge in South Dakota.
The park is home to more than 100 species of snakes, including some of the most dangerous snakes in North America, such as the American alligator snapping turtle (Alligator mississippiensis), which can grow up to 6 feet long and weigh more then 1,000 pounds, and the eastern diamondback rattler (Rattus rattus) which is the second deadliest snake on the planet, after the black widow (Latrodectus hesperus).
The rattlers are also known for their ability to regenerate lost limbs, which they can do in a matter of hours.
Is a king snake and a rat snake the same thing?
The scientific name for king snakes is Lampropeltis getula, while the more familiar name for rat snakes is Rattus norvegicus. King snakes are the largest snakes in the world, reaching lengths of up to 30 feet (9 meters) and weighing as much as 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms).
Rat snakes, on the other hand, are about the size of a house cat and weigh as little as a pound (0.4 kilograms) each. Both species are found in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. They are also found throughout the United States and in parts of Europe and the Middle East.
What snake kills rattlesnakes?
Other snakes are the most dangerous predator of rattlesnakes. Black racers, coachwhips, kingsnakes, milk snakes, indigo snakes and mussuranas can turn a deadly rattlesnake bite into a meal. The venomous bite of a black racer can kill a person within a few minutes.
The venom is so potent that it can paralyze the victim for up to two hours, and can even cause death by asphyxiation. In addition to the paralyzing effects, the venom can cause severe pain, swelling and internal bleeding, which can lead to organ failure and death within hours.
This is why it is important to immediately seek medical attention if you suspect a snakebite.
