BLACK KINGSNAKES
Lampropeltis getula nigra
(Yarrow 1882)- Once argued to be a dark pattern phase of the Speckled Kingsnake, Blanchard (1921) considered it to be it's
own ssp. based on 32 specimens. He considered it to "bridge the gap between L.g. holbrooki and L.g. getula." He does imply
that with more specimens it may be found to be just a pattern variant of L.g.. Holbrooki. Blaney (1977) also considered it to be
a distinct ssp. based primarily on it's pattern, which he describes as having "essentially reduced juvenile pattern of L.g.holbrooki
with ontogenetic darkening."
DESCRIPTION: Mostly black, with some having light white or yellow spotting normally along the sides and sometimes
forming crossbands with forking along the bases. Juveniles have a more distinct pattern of bands that darken as it ages. Ventral
patterns are typically irregular black and white, or yellow. Discernable from L.g.holbrooki in having little or no spotting between
the bands, and from L.g.getula in having broken crossbands instead of solid ones. Known to intergrade with both L.g.getula
and L.g. holbrooki.
MERESTICS: Banding (if present)- 21-44
                      Dorsal Scales- 21 (scale reduction normally 19-21-19)
                      Ventral Scales- 198-217
                      Subcaudals- 45-55 in males, 39-51 in females
                      Infralabials- 8-11
                      Supralabials- 7
                      Temporals- usually 2+3+4
DENTITION: 13+13 maxillary (all based on one specimen examined by Blanchard 1921)
                     14+13 mandibular
                     9+9 palantine
                     16+17 pterygoid
HABITAT: Rocky hills, open woodlands and borders, fields and prairies, near streams and rivers, or swampland and bogs in
elevations between 500 and 2500 ft.
RANGE: Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, W.Virginia, Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Georgia
SIZE AND LONGETIVITY: Usually about 36-45" with the record length being 58". They're recorded to living in captivity for
13 1/2 years, although life spans exceding that are likely possible.
NATURAL HISTORY: Usually active above ground from late March to late November. But, may vary depending on local
temperatures. Eggs range in size form 1.1-1.9" long, and .7-.9" wide. They're typically laid in clutches ranging in number from 3-24, with an average of around 12 eggs. Juveniles hatch out after approximatley 44-62 days, or longer, after being laid, depending on incubation temperatures. Hatchlings range in size from 7-10" SVL, and weigh approximately 5.3-8.0 grams. Jenkins et al (2001) found that wild specimens average a little more than an inch (1.02") of growth per month over
their first few months from spring to fall, and those over 24" grew only about 1/3" per month. Conant (1934) found that his
captives grew about 1/2" in their first 25 days after hatching before feeding. Many juveniles are reported to feed on other small snakes, including Brown snakes Storeria dekayi, and Worm snakes Carphophis amoenus. Conant (1934) reported captives as
also taking Gartersnakes Thamnophis butleri as prey items. But, captives will readily take pinky mice as their first prey items.
Adults have been reported to feed on snakes (including venomous), amphibians, small mammals, birds, and turtle and bird eggs.
Wright and Wright (1965) reported that Black Kingsnakes are capable of breeding at sizes of 23 1/4" for males, and 26 1/2"
for females. But, it's typically advised to wait till females are a bit larger for captive breeding. Jenkins et al (2001) found
that specimens from eastern Tennessee had home ranges of from .13-4.79 ha, with males having the largest ranges
(avg. 2.48 ha) compared to females (avg. .71 ha) They also found males made longer moves (avg.60 m/move) within those
ranges than females (avg. 39 m/move). During this study they measured body temperatures for 2 specimens implanted with temperature sensitive radio transmitters. They found they maintianed their body temperatures between 71.6 F and 87.8 F (avg.
75 and 79.5 for each snake) when air temperatures ranged between 52.7 and 91 F over a two day period in July. Suggesting
"optimum" temperatures to be between 70-90 F, although cooler winter temperatures weren't tested.
BLACK KINGSNAKE PHASES:
References:
    Blanchard, Frank N. 1921. A Revision of the Kingsnakes: Genus Lampropeltis. Bulletin of the United States National
           Museum 114.
    Blaney, Richard M. 1977. Systematics of the Common Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getulus. Tulane Studies in Zoology
           and Botany.
    Conant, Roger 1934.Observations on the Eggs and Young of the Black Kingsnake, Lampropeltis getulus nigra. Copeia #4
        .......and Joseph T.Collins 1998. Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. 3rd edition
            Houghton Mifflin Inc.
    Jenkins, Leanne, Thomas Thomasson IV, and John Byrd 2001. A Field Study of the Black Kingsnake, Lampropeltis
            getula nigra. Herpetological Natural History Vol.8 #1
    Markell, Ronald 1990. Kingsnakes and Milksnakes. TFH Publications.
       .......and R.D. Bartlett 1995. Kingsnakes and Milksnakes: A Complete Pet Owners Manual. Barron's Educational
             Series, Inc.
    Wright, Albert and Anna Wright 1965. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada 2nd edition. Vol.1 (391-394)
             Comstock Publishing Ass.

  Online Sources, Information and Pictuer sites:
             BlackKingsnake.com - Pictures, Addtional Info, Feild Notes of the Site Owner
            Common Kings of Tennessee- State Range Map, Pictures
            Snakes of Virginia- State Range Map, some info and pictures
            Pondturltle.com- Longetivity Records
            CRESO- Overview of Jenkins, Thomasson and Byrd 2001 Field study.
Left-Juvenile Black Kingsnake, Right- The same snake 2 years later. Both pictures courtesy of Jetzen.
Left- A picture showing the belly pattern of a Black Kingsnake, Right- A more solidly black patterned Black Kingsnake.
                               Both photos courtesy of Phil Peak and BlackKingsnake.com