Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides)
Created: January 24th, 2008 - 07:56 PM
Last Modified: January 31st, 2011 - 09:25 PM Entered by: Jason Ksepka
Record 11060
Last Modified: January 31st, 2011 - 09:25 PM Entered by: Jason Ksepka
Record 11060
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Country: United States |
State: North Carolina |
County: Pamlico County |
Time: 0000-00-00 00:00:00 |
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Qty: 1 |
Age: Juvenile |
Sex: -- |
Method: In crack or crevice |
Habitat: under bark on a cut pine log |
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Body Temperature: ----- |
Air Temperature: ----- |
Ground Temperature: ----- |
Humidity: ----- |
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Sky Conditions: ----- |
Moon Phase: ----- |
Elevation: ----- |
Barometric Pressure: ----- |
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Notes
old print, scanned. This snake is a coastal plains milk (L.t. temporalis, for those of you who use this name) from the southern most part of what is considered the range of this intergrade. The southern extent explains why it looks so much like a pure L. t. elapsoided, because it is almost pure.
Vouchers
Comments
Scarlet Kingsnake
I was about 17 years old (about 15years ago) when this animal was found. At the time the person I was hunting with told me that temporalis are at the southern part of the range on the pamlico peninsula, not north of the sound. I have stuck with this based on that info, and he was a very knowledgeable source, which isn't to say he is right, but knowledgeable. Anyway, I have asked around a bit and put in my two cents on a couple of postings on this topic, but when it comes down to it, I never managed to get a hold of any good documents on temporalis and everything I have come across seems to be essentially opinion. I grew up in central jersey and do love these guys. I also am very interested in the classification of them as there seems to still be active debate/arguments going around. If you can suggest, or even send me any info or documents that you have, I would love to get current on these guys.
Thanks for the inquiry, I really would love to be more current on my knowledge, and I do appreciate the question, it gets me thinking on whether I need to re-evaluate what I consider this animal. Also, thanks for catching my Gila mis-label, I assure you I didn't think it was a beaded, just got stupid on my ID at the time. I was probably in class while I was doing it.
jason-can i ask why you are calling this a L.t.temporalis? my understanding is that this snake would be a pure elapsoides(scarlet king),owing to it's locale(i.e. south of the pamlico sound)........in my opinion,your specimen's morphological charachteristics back this as well based on tricolor lampropeltis specimens i've seen from north of the pamlico sound,and from slightly further south(a couple counties) than where yours came from.your snake pictured looks basically identical to the latter which are pure scarlet kings..curious to hear your thoughgts;what a fascinating species.