# 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. - **Category:** [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/reptile) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Milksnake ![Nelson's milksnake](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Albino_Nelsoni.jpg&width=800) Photo: WilliamKF, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Albino_Nelsoni.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Squamata - **Order:** Serpentes - **Family:** Colubridae - **Genus:** Lampropeltis ## 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 - **Color Mimicry:** Nelson's milksnake uses its bright red, black, and white bands to mimic venomous coral snakes, scaring away predators. - **Constriction Power:** Nelson's milksnake can squeeze small prey very tightly, stopping their breathing and making them easy to eat. - **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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/deer-mouse) (*Peromyscus maniculatus*) — A common food source. - **Hunts:** [Western fence lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) — Often preyed upon. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A common aerial predator. - **Eaten by:** Virginia opossum (*Didelphis virginiana*) — Opportunistic ground predator. ## Traits - [Striped](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/striped): Marked with parallel bands or lines of color. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Reptiles](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/reptiles) ## 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? Compare the full body pattern, build, head markings and tail. Color can shift with age and lighting. Rules of thumb about triangular heads or round pupils aren't a reliable way to tell whether a snake is venomous. Snake Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## More Reptiles - [Pond Slider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pond-slider) (*Trachemys scripta*) - [Western Fence Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-fence-lizard) (*Sceloporus occidentalis*) - [Common Five-lined Skink](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-five-lined-skink) (*Plestiodon fasciatus*) - [Desert Spiny Lizard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/desert-spiny-lizard) (*Sceloporus magister*) --- Source: [Nelson's milksnake: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/nelsons-milksnake)