Western Black Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula nigrita
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- L. g. nigrita – Santa Cruz Co, AZ – photo by Kent VanSooy
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Lampropeltis g. nigrita occurs in southeastern Arizona where it intergrades with Lampropeltis g. californiae and Lampropeltis g. splendida.
LEGAL STATUS: No Listings
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lampropeltis getula nigrita (Zweifel & Norris – 1955)
Genus: Lampropeltis, Greek – lampros = shining, beautiful + pelta = small shield – ref. smooth shiny dorsal scales typical of the genus
Species: getula, Latin – getulus = belonging to the Getulians of Morocco, N. Africa – poss. ref. chain pattern of the eastern species, poss. error in location data
Subspecies: nigrita, Latin – nigra = black + ita = provided with
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jeager 1962