The Nuevo Leon Kingsnake is a species of non-venomous snake that is native to parts of Mexico. It was once considered a sub-species of Mexican Kingsnake until it was upgraded to species level.
It is sometimes referred to as the Variable Kingsnake or Thayer’s Kingsnake. It is known for its ability to produce three completely different ‘phases’ withing a single clutch.
Nuevo Leon Kingsnake Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The Nuevo Leon Kingsnake belongs to the Colubridae or Colubrid family of snakes. This is the largest family of Snakes in the world consisting of many popular species such as Corn Snakes and Milk Snakes.
With around 250 different genera of Colubrids, these snakes can be found on every continent except Antarctica which also makes them the most widely distributed family of snake in the world.
The vast majority of Colubrid snakes are non-venomous, or at least contain a venom that isn’t considered to be medically significant to humans.
However, there are a number of species of Colubrid snakes that contain venom capable of killing humans. This includes species from the Boiga and Rhabdophis genera as well as other snakes such as the Boomslang.
Genus
The Nuevo Leon Kingsnake belongs to the Lampropeltis genus. This genus contains the New World Kingsnakes and Milk Snakes.
Some other species in the Lampropeltis genus include the Mexican Milk Snake, the Grey Banded Kingsnake, the Prairie Kingsnake, the Scarlet Kingsnake and the Speckled Kingsnake.
The Kingsnake gets its name from the fact that they often eat other snakes, including Rattlesnakes. Similarly, the King Cobra gets its name from its tendency to also eat other snakes.
The scientific name ‘Lampropeltis’ comes from the Greek words ‘lampro’ and ‘pelte’ which loosely translates to ‘shiny shield’. This is a reference to these snake’s smooth, enamel-like dorsal scales.
Species
The scientific name for the Nuevo Leon Kingsnake is Lampropeltis leonis. It was previously considered a subspecies of the Mexican Kingsnake until it was upgraded to species level.
Nuevo Leon Kingsnake Description
The Nuevo Leon Kingsnake is highly variable and comes in a variety of different colors or ‘phases’. This is why they are often referred to as the Variable Kingsnake.
The ‘Leonis Phase’ is the most widely available in captivity. In this phase, they have a light grey, beige or cream background color with distinctive red banding that has a narrow black outline.
The Buckskin Phase produces a snake that is very similar in appearance to the Grey Banded Kingsnake. In this phase, the background color is light to dark grey with the same red and black banding.
The Milk Snake Phase, as its name suggests, produces a snake that is very similar in appearance to a Milk Snake.
The banding on these snakes consists of a large red band and a narrower white band. These bands are separated by an even thinner black band.
The Black Phase or Melanistic Phase produces a very dark looking snake similar to a Mexican Black Kingsnake. This is probably the rarest of the 4 phases mentioned.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Nuevo Leon Kingsnake is native to a small part of Mexico where they can be found in the plateaus of the State of Tamaulipas.
While their preferred habitat tends to be semi-arid regions, they are a very adaptable species and can be found in a wide range of habitats including more humid areas.
Nuevo Leon Kingsnake Diet
The wild, the Nuevo Leon Kingsnake will feed on a variety of different prey. They are an opportunistic feeder and will eat whatever it can overpower and fit in its mouth.
The bulk of their diet consists of lizards and rodents, with lizards being their meal of choice. They are also capable of eating other snakes, including venomous snakes.
