King snake is the name for a number
of species of the genus Lampropeltis, nonvenomous,
egg-laying, constricting snakes of North America
which show much variation in color and markings.
This common king snake
is usually about 3 to 5 ft (90-150 cm) long and
black or brown with yellow and white rings or bands
that form a chainlike pattern. It eats rodents,
birds, and other snakes. It is immune to the venom
of the rattlesnake and the copperhead, which it
kills by constriction. King snakes are valuable
destroyers of rodents.
