IDENTIFICATION: The Florida king snake is a fairly
large snake (some grow to be over 6 feet). They
have a combination of black, brown, and cream markings
on their backs with cream or yellow bellies covered
with black squares. The scales around the mouth
alternate black and cream.
RANGE AND HABITAT: Florida king snakes are found
throughout peninsular Florida, except for the extreme
northern and extreme southern areas. They are found
in diverse habitats, but seem to prefer areas near
water such as canals and ditches.
REPRODUCTION: These snakes mate when the weather
warms up in spring. They have been known to lay
up to 17 eggs at one time. About two months later
the snakes hatch. Occasionally, the young will
have orange or red markings that disappear as they
get older.
DIET: All king snakes eat other snakes including
venomous ones; they are immune to their venom.
King snakes are constrictors, and use their bodies
to wrap around and suffocate their food. For their
size, Florida king snakes are thought to be the
most powerful of all the constrictors. King snakes
will also eat birds, lizards, rodents, and even
turtle eggs.
FUTURE: Recent studies have shown that Florida
king snakes are on the decline. They are still
fairly common in some man-made environments such
as canals and sugarcane fields. They are also very
common in the pet trade and often reproduce in
captivity.
