Common name
Speckled King Snake
Range
Illinois, Iowa, south to Texas, and east to Alabama
Habitat
Fresh or brakish water swamps, bottomland hardwood forests, prairies, and upland forests
Endangerment status
Least Concern
Size (Average)
3-4 feet
Size (Record)
6 feet
Average Lifespan (in the wild)
5.5 years
Average Lifespan (in the zoo)
17 years
Activity Period
Diurnal
What do Speckled King Snakes eat in the wild?
Rodents, lizards, snakes (including venomous species)
What do Speckled King Snakes eat in the zoo?
Mice
Reproduction
Oviparous
Breeding season
Spring into early summer
Gestation period
5-7 weeks
Incubation period
50-80 days
Average Incubation period
60 days
Average Number of young
7-17
Development (hatchling length)
7-9 inches long
Development (when do they mature)
2-4 years
What is the Speckled King Snake also called?
Salt and Pepper Snake
What is their color variations?
Black or dark green with a white or yellow speck on almost every scale
What do Mature Speckled King Snake eat? (details)
It will eat venomous snakes on occasion, but the majority of their diet are rats and mice.
What do immature Speckled King Snake eat? (Details)
They will mainly eat small mice, lizards, frogs, and Garter Snakes.
Threat Reaction
When threatened it will attempt to flee. If not possible it will vibrate its tail in a leaf litter which sounds like a rattlesnake. If you try to pick it up while it is still threatened it may strike and Musk
