Western Milksnake
Lampropeltis gentilis
Description: 2
The Western Milksnake is one of four coral snake-pretenders in Texas. Although non-venomous, Western Milksnakes look like highly venomous coral snakes-they both have bands of black, red, and yellow. They grow to a length of 16 to 24 inches (40 to 69 cm). Western Milksnakes have alternating bands, in order, of black-red-black-yellow-black. The red bands are solidly colored and are wider than the yellow or black bands. Its black head is slightly pointed, and its scales are shiny.
Life History: 2
Small snakes, small lizards and newborn mice form the mainstay of the Western Milksnake's diet. It is preyed upon by other snakes, bullfrogs, hawks and owls, skunks, raccoons and other mammals. Sexual maturity is reached at two to three years. Mating season is in spring, with two to 16 eggs laid in the summer. Average clutch size is nine eggs. From early June through mid-July, the female lays her eggs inside a rotting log, beneath piles of plant material or in sandy, well-drained soil. Incubation lasts for 62 days. Young are 5.5 to 8 inches (14 to 20 cm) long and are patterned and colored like their parents when they hatch. One Western Milksnake lived for 20 years and 7 months in captivity, but the life span is shorter in the wild.
Milksnakes are secretive burrowers, hiding by day in loose, sandy soil, beneath objects on the ground or under the bark of tree trunks or logs. They are nocturnal, or move above ground at night. The snakes' coloring camouflages them particularly well at night. Because they are cool-weather reptiles, they suffer less from chilly temperatures. Unlike other snakes that become lethargic at night and during the cool days of spring and fall, Western Milksnakes move quickly and easily in cool temperatures.
It was once believed that Milksnakes mimicked, or looked like, coral snakes to avoid predators. But most snake-eating mammals are colorblind and many predatory birds can probably see color. The best explanation is that the body rings serve to break up or disguise the body shape of the snake.
Habitat: 2
Western Milksnakes prefer moist, sandy, low-lying wooded areas or beneath driftwood and other cover on the Gulf Coast barrier islands.
Distribution: 2
The Western Milksnake can be found from Montana and South Dakota south to Louisiana and west to Arizona.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Andrew DuBois, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), https://www.flickr.com/photos/138578145@N04/27616141182/
- (c) Caleb Paul, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
