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Re: Catch / Keep / Release?
Hey Tami,
In the wonderful world of CA Mtn Kings there are a total of 7 subspecies with 5 in CA. CaliforniaHerps mentions these specifically under the alternate names links: L. z. zonata (St Helena), L. z. multicincta (Sierra), L. z. multifasciata (Coast), L. z. pulchra (San Diego), and L. z. parvirubra (San Bernardino). Range maps and some great photos (check out the Sierra eating a rattler!) are given.
Please don't be too disappointed with the kings without reds. These are California Kingsnakes (Lampropeltis getulus californicas), subspecies of the Common Kingsnake. These are more prevalent throughout the state than the CA Mtn King and come in varying bands, stripes, or aberrant patterns of black and white, brown and yellow, or somewhere inbetween. Black and white (anerythristic) variants of the CA Mtn King do exist, but they are very rare!
Lucky for us, coral snakes ("red and yellow kill a fellow") do not live in California.
Steve
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