Eastern Kingsnake

*** Harmless ***

Common Name:	Eastern Kingsnake
Scientific Name:	Lampropeltis getula getula
Etymology:
Genus:	*Lampropeltis* is derived from the Greek words lampros which means "radiant" and pelta meaning "small shields".
Species:	*getula* is derived from the Latin word Getulus which refers to the Getulians people of Morocco in western Africa. The chain-like pattern found on this snake was prevalent in Getulian culture.
Subspecies:	*getula* is derived from the Latin word Getulus which refers to the Getulians people of Morocco in western Africa. The chain-like pattern found on this snake was prevalent in Getulian culture.
Vernacular Names:	Bastard horn snake, black king snake, common chain snake, common king snake, cow sucker, horse racer, master snake, oakleaf rattler, thunder-and-lightning snake, thunderbolt, thunder snake, wamper, wampum snake.
Average Length:	36 - 48 in. (90 - 122 cm)
Virginia Record Length:	63.8 in. (162.1 cm)
Record length:	82 in. (208.3 cm)

Virginia Fish and Wildlife Information Service: Species Booklet

Photos:

*Click on a thumbnail for a larger version.

Other Online Resources:

Frogs and Toads:	Tadpoles of the United States and Canada: A Tutorial and Key
Lizards:	Virginia Lizard Identification Guide
Snakes:	Virginia Snake Identification Guide	Virginia Snake Lengths & Dorsal Patterns
Salamanders:
Turtles:	Virginia Turtle Identification Guide
General:	Virginia Herpetological Atlases

References:

Behler, John L., King, F. Wayne. 1979. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles & Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, NY. 743 pages.

Bishop, Sherman C. 1943. Handbook of Salamanders. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. 555 pages.

Conant, R. and J.T. Collins. 1998. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles, Eastern and Central North America. Expanded, Third Edition. Houghton Mifflin, Co., Boston, MA. 616 pages.

Dorcas, Michael E. 2004. A Guide to the Snakes of North Carolina. Davidson College. 40 pages.

Ernst, Carl H. and Ernst, Evelyn M. 2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 668 pages.

Ernst, C.H., J.E. Lovich and R.W Barbour. 1994. Turtles of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. 578 pages.

Gibbons, J. Whitfield and Dorcas, Michael E. 2004. North American Watersnakes: A Natural History. University of Oklahoma Press. 438 pages.

Gibbons, Whit and Dorcas, Michael E. 2005. Snakes of the Southeast. University of Georgia Press. 253 pages.

Green, N. Bayard and Thomas K. Pauley. 1987. Amphibians & Reptiles in West Virginia. University of Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA. 241 pages.

Hulse, Authur C., McCoy C. J., Censky, Ellen. 2001. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. 419 pages.

Linzey, Donald W. and Michael J. Clifford. 1981. Snakes of Virginia. University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA. 173 pages.

Martof, B.S., W.M. Palmer, J.R. Bailey, J.R. Harrison III and J. Dermid. 1980. Amphibians and Reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC. 264 pages.

Mitchell, Joseph C. and Reay, Karen K. 1999. Atlas of Amphibians & Reptiles in Virginia. Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Special Publication # 1, Wildlife Diversity Division, Richmond, VA. 122 pages.

Mitchell, Joseph C. 1994. The Reptiles of Virginia. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. 352 pages.

Petranka, James W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C. 587 pages.

Pinder, M.J. and J.C. Mitchell. 2001. A Guide to the Snakes of Virginia. Wildlife Diversity Special Publication Number 2, Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries. Richmond, VA. 32 pages.

Tennant, Alan and R.D. Bartlett. 2000. Snakes of North America Eastern and Central Regions. Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, TX. 588 pages.

White, James F. Jr. and White, Amy Wendt. 2002. Amphibians and Reptiles of DELMARVA. Tidewater Publishers, Centreville, MD. 248 pages.

Wright, Albert and Anna. 1957. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Cornell University Press. 1105 pages.

Wright, Albert H. & Anna A, Wright. 1933. Handbook of Frogs and Toads of the United States and Canada. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY. 640 pages.