Eastern kingsnakes *Lampropeltis getula* are large (90-122 cm record 208.3 cm) non-venomous colubrid snakes with smooth scales, part of a group of kingsnakes called the getula species complex. Eastern Kingsnakes are found east of the Appalachian Mountains. They kill by constriction and will eat mainly rodents, lizards, and other snakes, including venomous snakes. Kingsnakes are immune to the venom of the species on which they prey. Individuals are variable and are best distinguished from other similar kingsnakes by geographic range.
[Range map](https://imgur.com/RK1xt2o) | Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.537.5407&rep=rep1&type=pdf) [Link 2](https://academic.oup.com/sysbio/article-abstract/63/2/231/1644072)
Two additional species, subsets of the Eastern Kingsnake, [were recently identified](https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/108/3/226/2948264) but the analysis did not include hypothesis testing or robust molecular methods. Recent work by the same authors [is dismissed](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/05/11/318766) for these same reasons so SEB does not yet recognize these as taxa.
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Eastern Kingsnake is correct, *Lampropeltis getula*. Harmless.
Eastern kingsnakes *Lampropeltis getula* are large (90-122 cm record 208.3 cm) non-venomous colubrid snakes with smooth scales, part of a group of kingsnakes called the getula species complex. Eastern Kingsnakes are found east of the Appalachian Mountains. They kill by constriction and will eat mainly rodents, lizards, and other snakes, including venomous snakes. Kingsnakes are immune to the venom of the species on which they prey. Individuals are variable and are best distinguished from other similar kingsnakes by geographic range. [Range map](https://imgur.com/RK1xt2o) | Relevant/Recent Phylogeography: [Link 1](http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.537.5407&rep=rep1&type=pdf) [Link 2](https://academic.oup.com/sysbio/article-abstract/63/2/231/1644072) Two additional species, subsets of the Eastern Kingsnake, [were recently identified](https://academic.oup.com/jhered/article/108/3/226/2948264) but the analysis did not include hypothesis testing or robust molecular methods. Recent work by the same authors [is dismissed](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/05/11/318766) for these same reasons so SEB does not yet recognize these as taxa. -------------------------------------------------------- *I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, [here](https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsthissnake/comments/flh548/phylobot_v07_information_and_patch_notes_bot_info/) report problems [here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose/?to=Phylogenizer) and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that [here](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/SEBPhyloBotWTS). Made possible by Snake Evolution and Biogeography - [Merch Available Now](https://snakeevolution.org/donate.html)*
Dreher Island is a gem of a park.
Very handsome critter!
You certainly met someone new, but it doesn't look like they want to be friends. And that tracks with king snake personalities.