milk snake
(Lampropeltis triangulum)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | not listed |
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| NatureServe | N5 - Secure S4 - Apparently Secure |
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| Minnesota | not listed Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
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Description |
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Eastern milksnakes are highly variable in coloration but most have a light background color with dark splotches that are outlined in black. There is usually a light-colored "Y" or "V" shaped mark on the back of the neck, sometimes replaced with just a light mark. The scales are not keeled. The belly has a checkerboard pattern. There is a single anal plate. |
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Size |
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24″ to 36″ |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Rocky hillsides; rocky areas in deciduous forests; and grassy areas near woodlands and rock outcroppings. |
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Ecology |
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Behavior |
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This snake is frequently encountered in buildings with stone foundations, including human dwellings. It is rarely found in the open during the day. |
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Lifespan |
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Up to 21 years |
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Life Cycle |
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Food |
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Mostly rodents, but also amphibians, birds and bird eggs, reptiles and reptile eggs, and other snakes, including venomous snakes. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 1/7/2023 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Reptilia (reptiles) | ||
| Superorder | Lepidosauria | ||
| Order | Squamata (snakes and lizards) | ||
| Suborder | Serpentes (snakes) | ||
| Infraorder | Alethinophidia | ||
| Superfamily | Colubroidea | ||
Family |
Colubridae (colubrid snakes) | ||
Subfamily |
Colubrinae | ||
Genus |
Lampropeltis (kingsnakes and milk snakes) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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This species was formerly named eastern milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum). At that time 24 subspecies of Lampropeltis triangulum were recognized. Genetic analysis by Ruan et al. in 2014 resulted in the species being separated into six species. All other subspecies are now treated as synonyms of one of the six resulting species. |
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Synonyms |
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Lampropeltis triangulum amaura (part.) Lampropeltis triangulum syspila (part.) |
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Common Names |
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eastern milk snake milk snake milksnake |
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Visitor Photos |
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Jeff LeClere |
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Bayleigh Winzenburg |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this reptile. |
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Other Videos |
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| Eastern Milk Snake Nick Scobel |
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About
Published on Dec 29, 2012 Short clip on a killer spot found in Michigan earlier this spring, complete with a healthy Eastern Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum). |
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| Eastern Milk Snake magic skater's channel! |
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About
Uploaded on Nov 14, 2009 This Eastern Milk Snake was found in the LATE LATE LATE FALL. NOVEMBER 14!!! |
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| 60-Second Snakes: The Eastern Milk Snake MichiganDNR |
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About
Published on Jun 26, 2015 The Michigan DNR’s 60-Second Snakes video series talks about identification tips and information about Michigan’s snake species. This episode features the eastern milk snake. Learn more about the Eastern Milk snake: http://bit.ly/easternmilksnake. A special thanks to Nature Discovery (http://bit.ly/1IcfFlb) for the opportunity to film their live educational snake specimens. |
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| Eastern milk snake MA Sarah Carr |
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About
Published on Apr 14, 2015 Beautiful girl caught around 6:00 pm 04/13/15 |
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| Eastern Milk Snake | Indiana DNR Indiana Department of Natural Resources |
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About
Published on Apr 2, 2015 Interpretive Naturalist Jarret Manek talks about the habits and identification of the eastern milk snake. |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this reptile. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| Bayleigh Winzenburg 5/2/2020 |
Location: Minneiska, MN : Wabasha County |
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| Jeff LeClere 6/25/2016 |
Location: Scott County |
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| Jeff LeClere 6/3/2012 |
Location: Fillmore County |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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