Desert Kingsnake
Lampropeltis getula splendida
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- L. g. splendida – Brewster Co, TX – photo by Rob Klockman
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- L. g. splendida – Calhoun Co, TX – photo by Todd Hughes
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- L. g. splendida – Cochise Co, AZ – photo by Kris Haas
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- L. g. splendida – Crosby Co, TX – photo by Benjamin Stupavsky
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- L. g. splendida – Dickens Co, TX – photo by Benjamin Stupavsky
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- L. g. splendida – Hudspeth Co, TX – photo by Jason Penney
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- L. g. splendida – Tom Green Co, TX – photo by Michael Price
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- L. g. splendida x L. g. nigrita Intergrade – Cochise Co, AZ – photo by Kris Haas
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- L. g. splendida x L. g. nigrita Intergrade – Pima Co, AZ – photo by Gerald Keown
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- L. g. splendida – Santa Cruz Co, AZ – photo by Steve Bledsoe
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- Map by Steve Bledsoe, SWCHR
DISTRIBUTION: In our region, Lampropeltis g. splendida occurs throughout the western half of Texas, across southern New Mexico and in extreme southeastern Arizona. It intergrades with Lampropeltis g. holbrooki in the eastern portion of its range. In southeastern Arizona it intergrades with both Lampropeltis g. nigrita and Lampropeltis g. californiae.
LEGAL STATUS: No Listings
MEANING OF SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lampropeltis getula splendida (Baird & Girard – 1853)
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: splendida, Latin = bright, shining, splendid
Ref. Ellen Beltz 2006
Ref. E. Jeager 1962