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Lampropeltis Main Page
What's the difference between rat snakes (Elaphe) and king
snakes (Lampropeltis)?
According to the Handbook of Snakes of the US and
Canada, these are the major
characteristics that distinguish these genera
from each other and from other genera
of colubrid snakes.
| Characteristic | Elaphe |
Lampropeltis |
|
head |
distinct | not distinct |
|
anal |
divided | entire |
|
ventrals |
angulate | not angulate |
|
scales |
smooth or weakly keeled | smooth |
|
scale rows |
25-33 | 17-27 |
|
upper labials |
8-11 | 7 |
|
lower labials |
11-16 | 9-11 |
|
loreal |
1 | 1 |
|
nasals |
2 | 2 |
|
preocular |
1 | 1 |
|
postoculars |
2 | 2-3 |
|
temporals |
variable | usually 2+3+4 |
|
maxillary teeth |
equal, smooth | subequal, 12-20 |
This information was taken from
Hanbook of Snakes of the
US and Canada
by A. H. Wright & A. A. Wright
1957 Cornell
University Press