http://www.ck12.org Chapter 13. Understanding Biodiversity: Animals: Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish
13.2 Lampropeltis gentulus californiae: Califor-
nia King Snake
Common Name
- California Kingsnake
- California King Snake
Description
The California kingsnake is black or brown and yellow or white. The pattern is bands of white or yellow on a black
or brown body. The California kingsnake can lay 20 or more eggs. The kingsnake weighs about 33 pounds and
measures 48 inches in length (2.8 to 3.5 feet).
Habitat
The California kingsnake lives in old rodent burrows. You can find it on the coast, in mountains, deserts, chaparral,
grasslands, and in woodlands. You can find the California kingsnake in southwestern Oregon, Nevada, Southern
Utah, Southern Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, California, and northwest Mexico.
Cell Biology
Every cell in the California kingsnake’s body is a eukaryotic cell. Eukaryotic cells are cells that have a nucleus, and
organelles. Organelles are parts of a cell, for example the nucleus, ribosomes, and Golgi bodies. The nucleus is
an important part for growth because it contains the DNA. Ribosomes are small parts of cells that make protein.
Finally Golgi bodies carry proteins in the cell and to the cell membrane. Red blood cells are cells that carry oxygen
around the kingsnake’s body. Meiosis is a type of cell division used for reproduction. Mitosis is another type of cell
division used to repair tissue and for growth.
Evolution
The California kingsnake is a reptile. The very first reptiles come from amniotes. The first known amniotes appeared
350 million years ago. Amniotes are very similar to reptiles because they would also lay eggs. Then about 30 million
years later they split into two other groups called synapsids and sauropsids. The synapsids eventually evolved into
modern day mammals. Then the sauropsids evolved into reptiles. About 5 million years later the first reptiles
appeared. The very first reptile was called Hylonomus. Synapsids were much better off during that era than
sauropsids. Then when the mass extinction happened 245 million years ago, most of the synapsids went extinct.
Then later the tuataras came along. The tuataras were a group that would eventually evolve into the lizards and
snakes.