Nelson's milksnake
ExploreReptiles
Nelson's milksnake
Lampropeltis triangulum nelsoni
Nelson's milksnake is a colorful snake with beautiful patterns! They are friendly and often found in the wild, hiding under rocks or in leaf litter.
Habitat: Grasslands
Appearance
The Nelson's milksnake is a vibrant reptile with bold bands of bright red, creamy white or yellow, and black. Its distinct pattern of red bands bordered by thin black lines mimics the venomous coral snake, but on this harmless snake, red touches black, not yellow.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassSquamataOrderSerpentesFamilyColubridaeGenusLampropeltis
Category
ReptilesRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
Be the first to snap!
Interesting facts
Baby milksnakes are born looking like tiny adults, ready to hunt alone!
Milksnakes got their name from being found in barns, not because they drank milk!
Some can vibrate their tails against leaves to sound like a rattlesnake!
When scared, they often hide their head and wiggle their tail to look bigger!
Special abilities
Ability
Color Mimicry
Nelson's milksnake uses its bright red, black, and white bands to mimic venomous coral snakes, scaring away predators.
Ability
Constriction Power
Nelson's milksnake can squeeze small prey very tightly, stopping their breathing and making them easy to eat.
Ability
Agile Climber
Nelson's milksnake has strong muscles and specialized scales that let it climb trees and rocks easily.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 60-120 cm
- Weight
- 0.1-0.5 kg
- Lifespan
- 10-20 years
- Top Speed
- 4 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 4-10
- Incubation
- 50-70 days
Diet & Feeding
Nelson's milksnakes are carnivores that eat small animals they catch with a powerful squeeze!
Age differences: Young snakes eat smaller versions of adult prey, such as insect larvae and small lizards.
Primary Foods
- Mice
- Voles
- Lizards
- Small snakes
- Bird eggs
Foraging Method
- Ambush
Ecological connections
hunts
Deer mouse
Peromyscus maniculatus
A common food source.
hunts
Western fence lizard
Sceloporus occidentalis
Often preyed upon.
eaten by
Red-tailed hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
A common aerial predator.
eaten by
Virginia opossum
Didelphis virginiana
Opportunistic ground predator.
Traits
Striped
Marked with parallel bands or lines of color.
Solitary
Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Carnivorous
This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Also known as
Milksnake
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
If you see a snake, it's best to watch from a distance and not touch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Nelson's milksnake?
The easiest way to identify Nelson's milksnake is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Nelson's milksnake?
60-120 cm
How much does Nelson's milksnake weigh?
0.1-0.5 kg
How long does Nelson's milksnake live?
10-20 years
How fast can Nelson's milksnake move?
4 km/h
What does Nelson's milksnake eat?
Nelson's milksnakes are carnivores that eat small animals they catch with a powerful squeeze!
Where is Nelson's milksnake usually found?
Grasslands
How does Nelson's milksnake hunt?
Ambush
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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