The Apalachicola kingsnake (also known as the Apalachicola Lowlands kingsnake) is a

subspecies In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...

of nonvenomous colubrid

snake Snakes are elongated, Limbless vertebrate, limbless, carnivore, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales. Ma ...

found in a small area of the

Florida Panhandle The Florida Panhandle (also West Florida and Northwest Florida) is the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Florida; it is a Salient (geography), salient roughly long and wide, lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia (U. ...

known as the Apalachicola Lowlands. Long argued as to whether or not it is a

, the Apalachicola kingsnake was formerly named ''Lampropeltis getula goini''. After years of research and many more specimens examined, in 2006, it was renamed to ''L. g. meansi'' after D. Bruce Means, in recognition of his work on this subspecies.

Description

Adults can range from 30 to 56.1 inches. They are characterized by variable coloration patterns with an overall light dorsal coloration and wide or thin banding patterns. However, some striped and patternless specimens have also been identified. The ventral pattern is also variable; some with bicolored, loose checkerboard, or predominantly dark scales. They possess smooth scales and have 21 dorsal scale rows at mid-body.

Geographic range

The Apalachicola kingsnake is endemic to Florida, and is only found in the panhandle between the

Apalachicola River The Apalachicola River is a river, approximately 160 mi (180 km) long in the state of Florida. The river's large watershed, known as the ACF River Basin, drains an area of approximately into the Gulf of Mexico. The distance to its fa ...

and Ochlokonee River and south of Telogia Creek. Morphological intermediates are found on both northern and southern ends of the range. These intermediates represent interbreeding between the Apalachicola kingsnake (''L. g. meansi)'' and the eastern kingsnake (''L. g getula'').

Habitat

Suitable habitat varies, but their range is quite small. Their habitat includes pinelands, hardwood hammocks, cypress strands, prairies, marshes, and estuaries.

Diet

Their diet includes snakes, even venomous ones such as the rattlesnake, lizards, amphibians, rodents, birds, and turtle and bird eggs.

Reproduction

Like other kingsnakes, they are oviparous, or egg-laying. Breeding takes place in March, April, and May, and after a month, three to 30 eggs are laid. The eggs hatch in late summer, 65 to 70 days after they have been laid. The hatchlings have an enormous appetite and grow quickly.

References

Sources

* * * {{Taxonbar, from=Q6482597 getula meansi