Eastern milk snake explained

Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum, commonly known as the eastern milk snake or eastern milksnake, is a subspecies of the milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum).^[1] The nonvenomous, colubrid snake is indigenous to eastern and central North America.^[2]

Geographic range

The eastern milk snake ranges from Maine to Ontario in the north to Alabama and North Carolina in the south.^[2] It was once thought by herpetologists to intergrade with the scarlet kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides) in a portion of its southern range, but this has been disproved.^{[3] [4]}

Common names

Additional common names for L. t. triangulum include the following: adder, blatschich schlange, chain snake, checkered adder, checkered snake, chequered adder, chequered snake, chicken snake, common milk snake, cow-sucker, highland adder, horn snake, house snake, king snake, leopard-spotted snake, milk sucker, pilot, red snake, sachem snake, sand-king, scarlet milk snake, spotted adder, and thunder-and-lightning snake.

Description

The eastern milk snake averages 60cmto91cmcm (20inchesto36inchescm) in total length (including tail), although specimens as long as 132cm (52inches) in total length have been measured. It has smooth and shiny scales. The dorsal color pattern consists of brownish dorsal saddles, which are edged with black. The dorsal saddles are sometimes reddish or reddish brown in southern areas of its range.^{[2] [5]} The pattern on the top and sides of the snake has also been described as three (or possibly five) series of black-bordered brown (reddish brown sometimes) blotches along the length of the snake on a gray or tan ground. The blotches in the dorsal series are large, while the blotches in the two (or possibly four) lateral series are smaller. The belly pattern is black and white checks (often irregular).^[6] The eastern milk snake is often described as exhibiting Batesian mimicry, being a palatable organism mimicing the unpalatable coral snake Micrurus fulvius^[7]

In 2023, the eastern milk snake became the official snake of Illinois.^[8]

Habitat

The eastern milk snake is a species commonly found in rural areas where hibernation and feeding sites, such as buildings and mammal burrows, are abundant, and it also uses a variety of open habitats and forest edges.^[9] Milksnakes in fragmented habitat, select locations with a greater number of cover objects within open patches surrounded by high density vegetation.^[10]

Reproduction

The eastern milk snake is oviparous with an average clutch size of 4-12 eggs.^[11] Eggs are typically laid in rotting wood or beneath rocks and logs. Occasionally, some eggs may be buried several inches deep in the soil. Most of the eggs will adhere to one another. Eggs are usually laid in the early summer and hatch after 2-2½ months. The eastern milk snake takes 3-4 years to reach full maturity.^[12] Little is known about their mating patterns. However, it is assumed that they probably mate while still in their hibernacula in the spring before emerging and dispersing to their summer ranges. Mating is inferred to be indiscriminate.^[13]

Feeding behavior

The eastern milk snake is a nocturnal hunter. It feeds primarily on mice but consumes other small mammals, snakes, birds, bird eggs, slugs, and other invertebrates.^[14] Juveniles commonly eat other small snakes, amphibians, and insects. As they age, they tend to feed on more birds and rodents.^[15] The Eastern milk snake is able to eat venomous snakes due to its venom neutralizing properties found in its blood.^[16] In a study on Eastern milk snakes in Kansas, they identified specific prey items. Twenty natural food items were recorded as follows: 12 Eumeces fasciatus, 2 Diadophis punctatus, 4 Cryptotis parva, 1 Eumeces obsoletus (juvenile, tail only), 1 Carphophis vermis, and 1 Peromyscus maniculatus.^[17]

Predator and prey

Eastern milk snake jaws are small and delicate, not adapted for ingestion of bulk prey ^[18] .The eastern milk snake is a constrictor. After striking and seizing prey, it quickly wraps its body around the prey animal to suffocate it. It swallows its prey whole. Common predators of the eastern milk snake include opossums, skunks, raccoons, hawks, owls, and coyotes. For predator avoidance, it mimics the colors of the venomous coral snake and venomous copperhead, which deters its predators. It has also been known to shake its tail to mimic rattlesnakes when threatened.^[19]

As a pet

Like many species of milk snakes, the eastern milk snake is often bred in captivity for the pet trade. It is generally docile and rarely attempts to bite, though it may do so if feeling restrained.

External links

• House Snake. House Snake or Milk Snake. x.

Further reading

• Boulenger GA (1894). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I-XX. (Coronella triangulum, pp. 200–201).
• Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series. Boston: Houghton Miffflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1-48. (hardcover), (paperback). (Lampropeltis t. triangulum, pp. 204, 206 + Plate 30 + Map 153).
• Conant R, Bridges W (1939). What Snakes Is That? A Field Guide to the Snakes of the United States East of the Rocky Mountains. (With 108 drawings by Edmond Malnate). New York and London: D. Appleton-Century. Frontispiece map + 163 pp. + Plates A-C, 1-32. (Lampropeltis t. triangulum, pp. 80–81 + Plate 13, figure 37).
• Lacépède [BG] (1789). Histoire Naturelle des Quadrupèdes Ovipares et des Serpens. Tome Second [Volume 2]. Paris: Imprimerie du Roi, Hôtel de Thou. 671 pp. (Coluber triangulum, new species, table méthodique, pp. 86–87). (in French).
• Lacépède [BG] (1789). Histoire Naturelle des Quadrupèdes Ovipares et des Serpens. Tome Quatrième [Volume 4]. Paris: Saugrain. 386 pp. ("Couleuvre triangle ", p. 188). (in French).
• McCoy CJ (1980). Identification Guide to Pennsylvania Snakes. (Design and illustrations by Michael Antonoplos). Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Carnegie Museum of Natural History. 12 pp. (Lampropeltis triangulum, p. 8).
• Morris PA (1948). Boy's Book of Snakes: How to Recognize and Understand Them. New York: Ronald Press. (A volume of the Humanizing Science Series, edited by Jaques Cattell). viii + 185 pp. (Lampropeltis doliata triangulum, pp. 24–26, 180).
• Netting MG, Richmond ND (editors) (1970). Pennsylvania Reptiles and Amphibians. Third Edition, Fifth Printing. (Photographs by Hal H. Harrison). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Fish Commission. 24 pp. (Lampropeltis doliata triangulum, p. 5).
• Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 figures. . (Lampropeltis triangulum, p. 381 + Plate 35 + Figure 159 on p. 330).
• Schmidt KP, Davis DD (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp., 34 plates, 103 figures. (Lampropeltis t. triangulum, pp. 186–188, Figure 56 + Plates 5, 20).
• Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press.240 pp. (hardcover), (paperback). (Lampropeltis t. triangulum, p. 180-181).
• Stejneger L, Barbour T (1917). A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (Lampropeltis t. triangulum, pp. 89–90).

Notes and References

1. Book: Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia. Alan H.. Savitzky. species:Alan H. Savitzky. Hutchins. Michael. 7: Reptiles, 2nd Edition. Detroit. Gale. 2004. 477. etal. 978-0-7876-5783-3.
2. Book: Mount, Robert H.. The Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama. species:Robert Hughes Mount. 1975. Auburn Printing Company. Auburn, Alabama. 1958638. 200–201.
3. Book: Williams, Kenneth L.. Systematics and Natural History of the American Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum. Milwaukee Public Museum. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 1988. Kenneth L. Williams. 978-0-89326-158-0.
4. Analysis of sympatric populations of Lampropeltis triangulum syspila and Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides, in western Kentucky and adjacent Tennessee with relation to the taxonomic status of the scarlet kingsnake. Armstrong. Michael P.. Frymire. David. Zimmerer. Edmund J.. Journal of Herpetology. 35. 4. December 2001. 688–93. 10.2307/1565915. 1565915.
5. Book: The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Behler. John L.. John L. Behler. King. F. Wayne. species:Frederic Wayne King. 1979. Knopf. New York. 978-0-394-50824-5. 457.
6. Book: Reptiles and Amphibians. Peterson Field Guides. Conant. Roger. Roger Conant (herpetologist). Collins. Joseph T.. Joseph T. Collins. 1991. Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 978-0-395-58389-0. 207.
7. .Imperfect Batesian mimicry—the effects of the frequency and the distastefulness of the model . Leena . Lindström . Rauno V . Alatalo . Johanna . Mappes . Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 264 . 1997 . 1379 . 149–153 . 10.1098/rspb.1997.0022. 1688248 .
8. Web site: Illinois Is Getting an Official State Snake. Here's What to Know About the Serpent . 14 December 2022 . NBCUniversal Media, LLC..
9. Maddalena . Marcus P. . Row . Jeffrey R. . Dyson . Matthew E. . Blouin-Demers . Gabriel . Fedy . Bradley C. . 2020 . Movement and Habitat Selection of Eastern Milk Snakes (Lampropeltis triangulum) at Intact and Fragmented Sites . Ichthyology & Herpetology . 4 . 847–854.
10. Marcus P. Maddalena, Jeffrey R. Row, Matthew E. Dyson, Gabriel Blouin-Demers, Bradley C. Fedy; Movement and Habitat Selection of Eastern Milksnakes (Lampropeltis triangulum) at Intact and Fragmented Sites. Copeia 1 December 2020; 108 (4): 847–854. doi: https://doi.org/10.1643/CE-19-187
11. Dyrkacz, S. (1977). The Natural History of the Eastern Milk Snake (Reptilia, Serpentes, Colubridae) in a Disturbed Environment. Journal of Herpetology, 11(2), 155–159. https://doi.org/10.2307/1563136.
12. Virginia Herpetological Society. www.virginiaherpetologicalsociety.com. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
13. Chesapeake Bay Program. https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/eastern-milksnake. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
14. Hamilton, Bryan Tyler; Hart, Rachel; Sites, Jack W. (2012). "Feeding Ecology of the Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum, Colubridae) in the Western United States," Journal of Herpetology, 46 (4): 515-522. https://doi.org/10.1670/10-091.
15. Chesapeake Bay Program. https://www.chesapeakebay.net/discover/field-guide/entry/eastern-milksnake. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
16. Weinstein, Scott A., et al. (1992). "Variability of Venom-Neutralizing Properties of Serum from Snakes of the Colubrid Genus Lampropeltis". Journal of Herpetology 26 (4): 452–461. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1565123. Accessed 25 Apr. 2023.
17. Fitch, H. S., & Fleet, R. R. (1970). Natural History of the Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) in Northeastern Kansas. Herpetologica, 26(4), 387–396. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3890759
18. Fitch, H. S., & Fleet, R. R. (1970). Natural History of the Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum) in Northeastern Kansas. Herpetologica, 26(4), 387–396. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3890759
19. Pfennig, D.W.; Harper, G.R.; Brumo, A.F.; Harcombe, W.R.; Pfennig, K.S. (2007). "Population differences in predation on Batesian mimics in allopatry with their model: selection against mimics is strongest when they are common". Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 61: 505-511.