Mexican Black Kingsnake
Common Name: Mexican Black Kingsnake
Scientific Name: Lampropelitis getula nigrita
Information Sheet - Mexican Black Kingsnake
Introduction:
The Mexican Black Kingsnake also known as black desert kingsnake is a non- venomous solid black snake found in the western Sonora and northwestern Sinaola in Mexico and in a small part of Arizona. This snake’s common name is Mexican Black Kingsnake while its scientific name is Lampropeltis getula nagrita
Description:
These snakes averages three to four feet in length and are slender. Adults spot solid black color but some young ones usually have lateral yellow or white spots under their chins that normally fade as they become larger. This particular snake has a very glossy skin, which looks like black patent leather.
Geographic range:
The Mexican Black kingsnake is usually found in the Sonora and Sinaola States in Mexico. Another place one can find the snake species is in the 
southern part of Arizona.
Habitat:
The black desert king snake is known to inhabit semi desert as well as scrubland areas, which are normally rocky. This is one of the reasons it is found in Northwestern Mexico
Behavior:
The Mexican Black Kingsnakes can make a good pet, as it is very docile. They are also not nervous hence do not bite as much. However, they can be quite aggressive especially in the wild. They are carnivorous in nature and should be kept away form other snakes.
Reproduction:
The female king snake usually lays six to twenty earlier fertilized eggs which later hatch into neonates.
Captivity:
If the owner of the snake is knowledgeable about handling snakes, the Mexican Black king snake will make them a very good pet. These snakes are good in captivity as they are fairly calm whenever they encounter humans. However, handlers of these snakes should be careful to wash their hands after handling rodents as the snakes might bite their hand thinking it is the rodent as they have a keen sense of smell. One can keep the kingsnake for as many as eighteen years.
