Lampropeltis

Lampropeltis is a genus of nonvenomous, snake-eating snakes, family Colubridae, comprising 26 species and roughly 45 subspecies, commonly called kingsnakes and milk snakes. The genus name references its smooth, enamel-like dorsal scales. Kingsnakes are native to North America, found across much of the United States and into Mexico, with a range extending north to Montana and North Dakota and south through Central America to the Mexico-Guatemala border; adults measure roughly 24 to 60 inches and display coloration ranging from muted browns and black to vibrant patterns of white, red and yellow. The common name king refers to their habit of preying on other snakes, including venomous species such as rattlesnakes and copperheads; well known members include the California kingsnake, eastern kingsnake, scarlet kingsnake and Mexican milk snake.