Eastern Kingsnake Lampropeltis getula getula (Linnaeus, 1766)
An adult from Aiken County, South Carolina Image © Suzanne L. Collins, 2001
Taxonomic Comments:
Pyron, R. Alexander and Frank T. Burbrink (2009. Lineage diversification in a widespread species: roles for niche divergence and conservatism in the common kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula. Molecular Ecology 18: 3443–3457), using mtDNA, demonstrated that this taxon was a distinct evolutionary lineage (= species). Standard common name remains Eastern Kingsnake. Pyron & Burbrink (2009. Systematics of the Common Kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula: Serpentes:Colubridae) and the burden of heritage in taxonomy. Zootaxa 2241: 22-32), using mtDNA, ecology, and morphology, recognized this race as a distinct species. Standard common name remains Eastern Kingsnake.