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Sonoran Ring-necked Snake — Part 2
Key to the King Snakes
I. Pattern: Alternating half-rings of black, and red (black-bordered) on gray ground.
Gray, with half rings of red (black-bordered), in alternation with narrow half-rings of black.
Beneath blotched with black.
DAVIS MOUNTAIN KING SNAKE, O. alternus.
II. Pattern: Red, yellow and black, in rings.
Red rings very wide; black rings about a quarter the width of the former and containing a very narrow and indistinct ring of yellow.
MEXICAN RINGED SNAKE, O. micropholis.
Red rings of moderate width; yellow rings about half the width of the former and bordered by narrower rings of black.
ARIZONA RINGED SNAKE, O. zonatus.
Similar to the former on forward portion of body; on latter portion the black rings widen, obscuring the red--this character usually most pronounced on abdomen.
WESTERN MILK SNAKE; RED KING SNAKE; RINGED KING SNAKE,
[O. doliatus gentilis.
Red rings widest; yellow rings bordered by equal-sized rings of black. This is much the smaller of the ringed King Snakes.
SCARLET KING SNAKE; "CORAL SNAKE," O. doliatus coccineus.
III. Pattern: Red or brownish blotches on a pale ground.
a. Blotches wide.
Yellowish, with red (black-bordered) blotches extending to the first row of scales.
SOUTHERN MILK SNAKE, O. doliatus (typical).
Yellow or gray, with red or brown (black-bordered), blotches reaching the third row of scales; small, alternating blotches on sides.
RED MILK SNAKE, O. doliatus clericus.
Yellow or gray, with brownish (black-bordered) blotches reaching to about fifth row of scales; smaller blotches on sides.