Yellow-bellied King Snake

Ophibolus calligaster, (Harlan)

Colouration: Pale grayish-brown, with a series of dark brown blotches on the back, which are 8 to 10 scales wide and 2 to 3 scales long; these spots are narrowly bordered with black. There is a smaller, alternating row of blotches on the sides, and a yet smaller row at the edges of the abdominal plates. The abdomen is yellowish, usually with square, black blotches in the centre.
Dimensions: General conformation similar to the preceding species, though slightly larger and proportionately stouter.
Distribution: The Central States. Indiana to Minnesota comprise the eastern and northern limits of the range which inclines southwestward to Kansas and northern Texas.
Habits: Similar to the allied species--the Brown King Snake. It feeds largely upon small rodents, birds and lizards, and appears to be less addicted to cannibalism than some species of this genus. The greater number of captive specimens are shy and delicate, refusing all food and thus gradually dying of starvation. Occasional specimens that show traces of appetite, prefer very young birds to all other food.

This is a considerably larger and a stouter species than the preceding, which it very much resembles in colouration. Its distinguishing features are the larger size, more distinct blotches, the head markings and the different habitat. The scales are in 25 rows--those of the preceding and closely allied snake in 23 rows or a lesser number.

Generally, the head markings are quite vivid.(With the exception of a dark bar from behind the eye to the angle of the mouth, there are no head markings with the preceding species--Ophibolus rhombomaculatus, the Brown King Snake.) There is a dark band across the forward portion of the head and an arrowheaded mark covering the central and rear portion of the head; from behind the eye to the angle of the mouth is another dark band. On the neck are usually two parallel bands, extending to the base of the head.

Total length of adult specimen . . . . . 46 inches.

Length of tail . . . . . 6 1/2 inches.