A Guide to the Amphibians
and Reptiles of California

Click on a picture for a larger view

California Mountain Kingsnake - Lampropeltis zonata

(Lockington ex Blainville, 1876)

(= Lampropeltis multifasciata - Coast Mountain Kingsnake)

Description • Taxonomy • Species Description • Scientific Name • Alt. Names • Similar Herps • References • Conservation Status

Red: Range of this species in California
Lampropeltis zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake

Blue: Areas where mountain kingsnakes have been reported
but not confirmed or documented.

Click on the map for a topographical view

Map with California County Names

Baja CA Page

Northwest Page

All of the Mountain Kingsnakes shown on this page are the same species.

Lampropeltis zonata was formerly treated here as species with five subspecies present in California - Range Map.
Then it was treated here as two species -
L. zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake and
L. multifasciata - Coast Mountain Kingsnake - Range Map.
That two-species taxonomy was never universally accepted so after years of using it, this site has returned to using the one species concept, but no longer recognizing any subspecies. However, because there is some locality-based variation in pattern in the species, and because many mountain kingsnake enthusiasts perfer to recognize subspecies, the pictures of snakes seen on this page have been organized into groups that correspond to the formerly-recognized subspecies and subspecies intergrade groups:

Sierra Mountain Kingsnake - L. zonata multicincta
Coast Mountain Kingsnake - L. zonata multifasciata
San Bernardino Mountain Kingsnake - L. zonata parvirubra
San Diego Mountain Kingsnake - L. zonata pulchra
St. Helena Mountain Kingsnake (Intergrades) L. zonata zonata
Kern County Intergrades
Diablo Mountain Kingsnake Intergrades

Lampropeltis zonata formerly recognized as the subspecies

Lampropeltis zonata multicincta - Sierra Mountain Kingsnake

(Habitat)

Adult Tuolumne County

Adult, Tuolumne County

Adult Tuolumne County

Adult, Tuolumne County

Adult underside, Tuolumne County

Adult, El Dorado County © Chad M. Lane

Adult photographed crawling in daylight, Plumas County. © Railfan

Adult, El Dorado County.
© Chad M. Lane

Adult, Calaveras County © Chad M. Lane

Adult, Mariposa County © Paul Maier

Juvenile, 3,700 ft. elevation
Tuolumne County © Adam Gitmed

Adult, Madera County © Ryan Sikola

Adult, Greenhorn Mountains,
Kern County © Ryan Sikola

Adults, Tuolumne County © Emile Bado
Left: "High Black" phase
Right: Normal phase

Adult, Tulare County © Ryan Sikola

Adult, Tuolumne County © Nick Esquivel

California Mountain KIngsnakes With Very Little or No Red Coloring

"High Black" adult, Tuolumne County © Emile Bado

This snake from Plumas County has little red coloring,
with only a few complete red bands. © Timothy Boomer

Axanthic adult, El Dorado County Specimen. Courtesy of Tim Burkhardt
© 2002 Brad Alexander

Lampropeltis zonata formerly recognized as the subspecies

Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata - Coast Mountain Kingsnake

(also formerly known as the species Lampropeltis multifasciata - Coast Mountain Kingsnake)

(Habitat)

Adult found on a driveway in Santa Cruz County © Scott Peden

Juvenile, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Clara County

Juvenile, Santa Cruz County, found in January 2011 © Scott Peden

Adult, Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Cruz County.
© Gary Nafis Specimen courtesy of Mitch Mulks

Adult, © Gary Nafis
Specimen courtesy of Mitch Mulks

Adult, San Mateo County
© Zachary Lim

Adult, Santa Clara County
© Nick Esquivel

Adult, San Mateo County
© Zachary Lim

Adult, Santa Cruz County © Zachary Lim

Adult, San Mateo County © Zachary Lim

Adult, Santa Cruz County
© Benjamin German

Sometimes, this is all you get to see.
San Mateo County.

Adult, Santa Cruz County © Zachary Lim

These two adult males were found sheltering next to each other in Santa Clara County, both, strangely, with their hemipenes showing. © Jared Heald

Adult, Santa Clara County © Jared Heald

Juvenile, Santa Cruz County © Jared Heald

Adult, San Mateo County © Jared Heald

Adult, Santa Clara County
© Jared Heald

Adult with 22 triads from the Diablo Range, Santa Clara County
© Jared Heald

Adult with pinkish/orange coloring,
Santa Cruz County © Jared Heald

Adult with a lot of red on the head, Santa Cruz County © Jared Heald

12-inch-long juvenile with a recent meal, Santa Cruz County © Zachary Lim

Adult, San Mateo County © Zachary Lim

Neonate, San Mateo County © Jared Heald

Adult, San Mateo County © Ryan Sikola

Young snake from 3,480 ft.elevation in the Ohlone Regional Wilderness in
Alameda County © Mandy Colombo Murphy

Sub-adult, San Mateo County © Faris K

Adult, Santa Clara County © Neo S

Adult, Santa Cruz County © Ryan Sikola

Adult, San Mateo County © Faris K

Adult, Santa Cruz County © Faris K

Adult, Santa Cruz County
© Benjamin German

This little well-read zonata was discovered in the Santa Cruz Mountains reading about itself in Brian Hubbs' book "Mountain Kings." © Faris K

Adult, Santa Cruz County, with an adult California Nightsnake, found nearby.
© Faris K

Adult, Santa Cruz County © Faris K

Adult, Santa Cruz County © Zach Lim

Juvenile with a few broken incomplete bands on the neck and body,
San Mateo County © Faris K

Adult from a fringe locale in Santa Cruz County
with some neat facial features. © Faris K

Adult, Santa Cruz County © Zach Lim

Adult, Monterey County
© Ryan Sikola

Juvenile, Monterey County
© Ryan Sikola

Adult, Monterey County
© Ryan Sikola

Adult, Monterey County
© Ryan Sikola

Adult, Central Coast
© Ryan Sikola

Adult, Santa Barbara County
© Ryan Sikola

Adult, Central Coast
© Ryan Sikola

Juvenile, northern Santa Lucia Mountains, Monterey County
© Benjamin German

Adult, southern Santa Lucia Mountains, Monterey County (near the border with San Luis Obispo County)
© Benjamin German

Adult, Santa Lucia Mountains, Monterey County © Benjamin German

Juvenile, Gabilan Mountains, San Benito County
© Benjamin German

Adult, Gabilan Mountains,
San Benito County © Benjamin German

Adult, Monterey County
© Benjamin German

Adult Santa Barbara County © Max Roberts

Adult, Santa Cruz County
© Marcus Rehrman

Adult, Ventura County
© Daniel Koury

This is the first Coast Mountain Kingsnake confirmed from San Luis Obispo County © Daniel Koury

Adult, Santa Cruz County
© Marcus Rehrman

Adult, Monterey County
© Ryan Sikola

Adult, San Mateo County
© Matthias Lemm

Adult, Santa Cruz County
© Matthias Lemm

Coast Mountain Kingsnake Habitat Museum Exhibit

Monterey museum exhibit.
Exhibits like this one have inspired many a young herper with the desire to see this beautiful snake in the wild.
© Benjamin German

Lampropeltis zonata from the Transverse Ranges in Southern California formerly recognized as the subspecies

Lampropeltis zonata parvirubra - San Bernardino Mountain Kingsnake

(also formerly known as the species Lampropeltis multifasciata - Coast Mountain Kingsnake)

(Habitat)

Adult, San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County © Gary Nafis Specimen courtesy of Mitch Mulks

Adult, San Jacinto Mountains,
Riverside County © Benjamin German

Adult, San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County, © Brad Alexander

Two adults from the same rock outcrop in the San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino County © Brian Hubbs

Adult, San Jacinto Mountains,
Riverside County. © Brian Hinds

Adult, San Bernardino County
© Patrick Briggs

Adult, San Gabriel Mountains
Los Angeles County © Jeremiah Easter

Adult, San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angeles County © Gregory Litiatco

Head Study, San Bernardino County
© Patrick Briggs

Adult, found at 7,000 ft. elevation in Ventura County © Benjamin German

Adult, San Bernardino County
© Huck Triggs

Juvenile, Mt. San Jacinto, Riverside County © Kenny Elliott

This mountain kingsnake was discovered on the crawl in a forest during a USFS prescribed burn on Mt. San Jacinto, Riverside County, and put some place safe. © Kenny Elliott

Lampropeltis zonata from the SoCal Peninsular Ranges, Santa Ana and Santa Monica Mountains formerly recoginzed as the subspecies

Lampropeltis zonata pulchra - San Diego Mountain Kingsnake

(also formerly known as the species Lampropeltis multifasciata - Coast Mountain Kingsnake)

(Habitat)

Juvenile, San Diego County

Adult, San Diego County

Juvenile, San Diego County

Adult basking at the edge of a boulder crack, San Diego County

Adult, San Diego County

Adult, Orange County. © Mike Pecora

Adult, Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County © Colin Byrne

Juvenile observed crossing a road in August, San Diego County © Bill Bachman

Adult, Santa Ana Mountains ,Riverside County © Nathan Ray

Adult, coastal Los Angeles County
© Huck Triggs

Adult, found in a creek in a rocky canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains,
Los Angeles County © Huck Triggs

Adult, San Diego County © Marcus Rehrman

Adult, San Diego County © Kenny Elliott

Adult, Santa Ana Mountains, Riverside County © Nathan Ray

Adult, Santa Ana Mountains, Orange County © Tadd Kraft

Aberrant Pattern

Aberrant juvenile, San Diego County

Underside of aberrant juvenile,
San Diego County

Lampropeltis zonata from north of the San Francisco Bay formerly recognized as the subspecies

Lampropeltis zonata zonata - St. Helena Mountain Kingsnake

Some of these are of snakes from the former intergrade zone of the subspecies L. z. zonata and L. z. multicincta

(Habitat)

Adult, Napa County. Specimen courtesy of Mitch Mulks

Adult, Napa County. Specimen courtesy of Rick Staub

Adult, Napa County. Specimen courtesy of Mitch Mulks

Adult, Napa County. Specimen courtesy of Rick Staub

Adult, Napa County.
Specimen courtesy of Mitch Mulks

Mountain kingsnakes from the intergrade zone of the subspecies L. z. zonata and L. z. multicincta

Adult from Trinity County © Ben Witzke
(Formerly recoginzed as an intergrade of L. z. zonata and L. z. multicincta)

Young adult with a recent meal inside it, Siskiyou County © Gene Sederholm

Gravid adult female, Shasta County
© Emile Bado

Lampropeltis zonata in Kern County formerly recognized as intergrades of the subspecies

L. z. multifasciata and L. z. multicincta

Adult, Kern County

Adult, Kern County
Specimen courtesy of Mitch Mulks

Lampropeltis zonata formerly recognized as Intergrades of the subspecies

L. z. zonata and L. z. multifasciata - Diablo Mountain Kingsnake

Former Subspecies Not Known
from the coast range south of Monterey Bay

California Mountain Kingsnakes Feeding

A captive juvenile California Mountain Kingsnake eating a hairless juvenile mouse.

Habitat

Habitat of the formerly-recognized subspecies Lampropeltis zonata multicincta - Sierra Mountain Kingsnake

Habitat, Tuolumne County

Habitat, Kern County

Habitat, Tuolumne County

Habitat, Kern County

Habitat of the formerly-recognized subspecies Lampropeltis zonata multifasciata - Coast Mountain Kingsnake

Habitat, 1,400 ft. Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Cruz County

Habitat, Santa Cruz Mountains,
Santa Cruz County

Habitat, San Mateo County

Habitat, 2,500 ft. Santa Cruz Mountains, Santa Clara County

Habitat, coast range, Monterey County

Habitat of the formerly-recognized subspecies Lampropeltis zonata parvirubra - San Bernardino Mountain Kingsnake

San Bernardino Mountain Kingsnake Habitat

Habitat, 6,200 ft. San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino County

Habitat, San Jacinto Mountains,
Riverside County

Habitat, 5,800 ft. San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino County

Habitat, 6,200 ft. San Bernardino Mountains, San Bernardino County

Habitat, 5,600 ft., San Jacinto Mountains, Riverside County

Habitat of the formerly-recognized subspecies Lampropeltis zonata pulchra - San Diego Mountain Kingsnake

Habitat, 5,500 ft. San Diego County

Habitat, 6,000 ft., San Diego County

Habitat, 5,500 ft. San Diego County

Habitat, 6,000 ft., San Diego County

Habitat of the formerly-recognized subspecies Lampropeltis zonata zonata - St. Helena Mountain Kingsnake

Habitat, Napa County

Habitat, Mayacamas Mountains,
Sonoma County

Habitat, Napa County

Short Videos

A short look at a juvenile Mountain Kingsnake found under a rock in San Diego County

This short video shows an adult mountain kingsnake in a creek in a rocky canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains, Los Angeles County © Huck Triggs

Description

Not Dangerous - This snake does not have venom that can cause death or serious illness or injury in most humans.

Commonly described as "harmless" or "not poisonous" to indicate that its bite is not dangerous, but "not venomous" is more accurate. (A poisonous snake can hurt you if you eat it. A venomous snake can hurt you if it bites you.)

There are no venomous snakes in California that can be mistaken for this snake, but similar-looking Coral Snakes, including the Arizona Coral Snake which is found in the adjacent state of Arizona, is venomous and dangerous.

Size

20 - 50 inches long (51 - 127 cm.)
Hatchlings are 7 - 11 inches in length (18 - 28 cm.)

Appearance

A medium-sized slender snake with a head not much wider than the cylindrical body with smooth shiny scales.

Color and Pattern

Black, red, and off-white or grayish-white rings circle the body.
The red bands are noticeably wider than the others, with the white bands wider than the black.
Some black bands may widen and cross over the red bands on the back.
A red band surrounded by two black bands is referred to as a "triad."
On this subspecies there are 18 - 39 triads, with an average of 33.
Typically, 60 percent or more of the triads have complete red bands with no black crossovers.
The bands continue around the belly, but the coloring is paler, and the black and white bands are reduced in size giving the belly a reddish coloring.
The nose is black sometimes with some red.
Black and white individuals are sometimes found, usually in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Others have few or no red bands.

Life History and Behavior

Activity

Secretive, but not rare in suitable habitat.
Spends most of the time underground, under surface objects, or inside rock crevices.
Occasionally seen active on the ground in the daytime, especially near shaded streams on hot sunny days.
Active during the day at high altitudes during times of low nighttime temperatures (which is typical habitat.)
When temperatures are more moderate, it can be crepuscular, nocturnal, and diurnal.
During very hot weather, activity is primarily nocturnal.
This snake is normally active at temperatures between approximately 55 - 85 degrees.

Enters into winter hibernation typically around November, emerging some time from February to April, depending on location and weather conditions.

Diet and Feeding

Eats lizards, small mammals, nestling birds, bird eggs, amphibians, and occasionally snakes, including its own species.

Reproduction

Mating takes place a few weeks after emergence in the spring.
Females are oviparous, laying eggs from June-July which hatch after 50 - 65 days.

Habitat

A habitat generalist, found in diverse habitats including coniferous forest, oak-pine woodlands, riparian woodland, chaparral, manzanita, and coastal sage scrub. Wooded areas near a stream with rock outcrops, talus or rotting logs that are exposed to the sun are good places to find this snake.

Geographical Range

Ranges from southwest Oregon to Baja California, with an isolated population in extreme southern Washington.

Confirmed from Camp Ohlone, first Alameda County record, in 2010. Zachary A. Cava Herpetological Review 41(1), 2010

There are unconfirmed sight records from the White Mountains, Mt. Diablo, Marin County, and the interior south coast range.

Confirmed from the Gabilan Range at Fremont Peak, first San Benito County record, in 2013. Dana Waters, Herpetological Review 44(2), 2013, but that area is not covered in Myers et al (2013) so the species there is not known.

Click the map to enlarge.
Click Here to see a map of the ranges of all of the formerly-recognized subspecies.
Click Here to see a map of the ranges of the formerly-recognized subspecies in California.

Elevational Range

From near sea level along the coast, to 9,000 ft. (2750 m) on Mt. San Jacinto.
Most common from 3,000 - 4,500 ft. (914 - 1,372 m).

Notes on Taxonomy

Lampropeltis zonata split into two species:

In 2013 Myers et al (Myers, E. A., J. A. Rodríguez-Robles, D. F. DeNardo, R. E. Staub, A. Stropoli, S. Ruane, and F. T. Burbrink. 2013. Multilocus phylogeographic assessment of the California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) suggests alternative patterns of diversification for the California Floristic Province. Molecular Ecology 22 2013 - PDF) show that Lampropeltis zonata consists of two species, but did not give these species Common Names. They also show that the southern species contains two lineages - the southern species, and the Peninsular Range lineage.

"Using nonparametic and Bayesian species delimitation, we determined that there are two well-supported species within L. zonata. Ecological niche modeling supports the delimitation of these taxa, suggesting that the two species inhabit distinct climatic environments. Gene flow between the two taxa is low and appears to occur unidirectionally. [north to south only] Further, our data suggest that gene flow was mediated by females, a rare pattern in snakes. In contrast to previous analyses, we determined that the divergence between the two lineages occurred in the late Pliocene (c. 2.07 Ma). Spatially and temporally, the divergence of these lineages is associated with the inundation of central California by the Monterey Bay."

"Recognizing two species in this complex is a conservative decision, as the southern taxon could potentially be further subdivided into two separate lineages."

Lampropeltis zonata (Lockington ex Blainville 1835)

"Lampropeltis zonata is composed of all populations in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Coast Ranges north of Monterey Bay, California, north into the Klamath Mountains, in Oregon, plus an additional, disjunct population along the Columbia Gorge, in the great state of Washington."

Lampropeltis multifasciata (Bocourt 1886)

"Lampropeltis multifasciata is composed of all populations in the Peninsular Ranges and in the Transverse Ranges, north into the Coast Ranges just south of Monterey Bay, California, including the disjunct population on Isla Sur of Islas Todos Santos, Baja California, Mexico.

(Myers et al 2013)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In their June 2016 and December 2025 lists, the SSAR Scientific and Common Names List recognizes L. zonata and L. multifasciata.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The 2018 Stebbins & McGinnis Peterson Field Guide recognizes L. zonata and L. multifasciata.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The two species view has been widely unpopular so in May 2026 this website reverted to the one species view.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In their 2025 field guide, Hansen and Shedd chose to recognize only one species of California Mountain Kingsnake, Lampropeltis zonata, with no subspecies "...pending further evaluation by the scientific community ." They follow studies by Myers (2013) and Rodriguez Robles et al. (1999) that both "...concluded that genetic data did not support traditional subspecies designations" but they acknowledge that "...considerable pattern variation exists, some of which has a geographic component."

Distribution Map of Former Subspecies of Lampropeltis zonata

(Based in part on Stebbins, 2003, and Hubbs, 2004.)

Alternate and Previous Names (Synonyms)

L. zonata - Califonia Mountain KIngsnake and L. multifasciata - Coast Mountain Kingsnake (SSAR 2025 Scientific and Common Names List

L. zonata Califonia Mountain KIngsnake and L. multifasciata - Coast Mountain Kingsnake (iNaturalist 5/26)

L. zonata Califonia Mountain KIngsnake and L. multifasciata - Coast Mountain Kingsnake (Stebbins & McGinnis 2018)

L. zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake with subspecies (The Reptile Database 5/26)

L. zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake with subspecies (California Department of Fish and Wildlife 2025)

L. zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake with subspecies (Wickipedia 5/26)

L. zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake (NatureServe Explorer 5/26) [one species with no subspecies]

L. zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake with subspecies (Hubbs, Brian - Mountain Kings, 2004)

L. zonata - California Mountain Kingsnake with 5 subspecies in California (Stebbins 1954, 1966, 1985, 2003, 2012)

Lampropeltis pyromelana multicincta - Coral King Snake (Ophibolus getulus multicinctus; Coluber [Zacholus] zonatus; Coronella multifasciata; Bellophis zonatus; Ohibolus pyrrhomelanus; Ophibolus pyrrhomelas; Coronella pyromelanus zonata; Coronella zonata; Ophibolus zonatua; Lampropeltis zonata. California King Snake; Arizona Ringed Snake; Ringed King Snake; Eisen's King Snake; Red Milk Snake; Coral Snake; Ring Snake; Harlequin Snake) (Grinnell and Camp 1917)

Sierra Coral King Snake (Klauber)
Coral King Snake (Atsatt 1913)

Some old common names:
Coast-range Coral King Snake; Coral Snake; Arizona King Snake; (California) Coral Snake; Mountain King Snake; Ringed King Snake; Western Coral King Snake

Conservation Issues (Conservation Status)

The State of California considers the San Bernardino population (L. z. parvirubra) and the San Diego population (L.z. pulchra) to be potentially threatened. No California Mountain Kingsnakes can be collected in Orange and San Diego counties, and in Los Angeles County west of Interstate 5.

When slabs are torn off rock outcrops by someone searching for this snake or other reptiles, the habitat this snake uses for refuge is irreparably damaged. It takes thousands of years for this rock fissuring to occur, so this habitat will not be replaced for many centuries. Such rock destruction is illegal in California: "It is unlawful to use any method or means of collecting that involves breaking apart of rocks, granite flakes, logs or other shelters in or under which reptiles may be found." (2007 regulations 5.60.4.)

Snake hunters are usually blamed for rock habitat destruction, but I have also seen people in the mountains tearing off huge slabs of granite from boulders with a crowbar then carrying the slabs away for some unknown use, so the source of rock damage is not restricted to snake hunters.

Taxonomy
Family	Colubridae	Colubrids	Oppel, 1811
Genus	Lampropeltis	Kingsnakes and Milksnakes	Fitzinger, 1843
Species	zonata	California Mountain Kingsnake	(Lockington ex Blainville, 1876)
Original Description
Lampropeltis zonata - (Lockington, 1876 ex Blainville, 1835) - Proc. California Acad. Sci., Vol. 7, p. 52 ex Blainville, Ann. Mus. Hist. Nat. Paris., Ser. 3, Vol. 4, p. 293 from Original Description Citations for the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America © Ellin Beltz
Meaning of the Scientific Name
Lampropeltis - Greek - lampros = shiny + pelta = shield - referring to the smooth, shiny dorsal scales characteristic of this genus zonata - Greek = banded - refers to the black banding from Scientific and Common Names of the Reptiles and Amphibians of North America - Explained © Ellin Beltz
Related or Similar California Snakes
Lampropeltis californiae - California Kingsnake Rhinocheilus lecontei - Long-nosed Snake
More Information and References
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Rodriguez-Robles,Denardo and Staub (1999 Molecular Ecology 8: 1923-1934) Publication #19 Myers, E. A., J. A. Rodríguez-Robles, D. F. DeNardo, R. E. Staub, A. Stropoli, S. Ruane, and F. T. Burbrink. 2013. Multilocus phylogeographic assessment of the California Mountain Kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata) suggests alternative patterns of diversification for the California Floristic Province. Molecular Ecology 22 2013 - PDF Hansen, Robert W. and Shedd, Jackson D. California Amphibians and Reptiles. (Princeton Field Guides.) Princeton University Press, 2025. Stebbins, Robert C., and McGinnis, Samuel M. Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of California: Revised Edition (California Natural History Guides) University of California Press, 2012. Stebbins, Robert C. California Amphibians and Reptiles. The University of California Press, 1972. Flaxington, William C. Amphibians and Reptiles of California: Field Observations, Distribution, and Natural History. Fieldnotes Press, Anaheim, California, 2021. Nicholson, K. E. (ed.). 2025. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. [SSAR] 87pp. Samuel M. McGinnis and Robert C. Stebbins. Peterson Field Guide to Western Reptiles & Amphibians. 4th Edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2018. Stebbins, Robert C. A Field Guide to Western Reptiles and Amphibians. 3rd Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2003. Behler, John L., and F. Wayne King. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, 1992. Robert Powell, Roger Conant, and Joseph T. Collins. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America. Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016. Powell, Robert., Joseph T. Collins, and Errol D. Hooper Jr. A Key to Amphibians and Reptiles of the Continental United States and Canada. The University Press of Kansas, 1998. Bartlett, R. D. & Patricia P. Bartlett. Guide and Reference to the Snakes of Western North America (North of Mexico) and Hawaii. University Press of Florida, 2009. Bartlett, R. D. & Alan Tennant. Snakes of North America - Western Region. Gulf Publishing Co., 2000. Brown, Philip R. A Field Guide to Snakes of California. Gulf Publishing Co., 1997. Ernst, Carl H., Evelyn M. Ernst, & Robert M. Corker. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, 2003. Taylor, Emily. California Snakes and How to Find Them. Heyday, Berkeley, California. 2024. Wright, Albert Hazen & Anna Allen Wright. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Cornell University Press, 1957. Mulks, Mitch. Zonata - The California Mountain Kingsnake. LM Digital, 2005. Joseph Grinnell and Charles Lewis Camp. A Distributional List of the Amphibians and Reptiles of California. University of California Publications in Zoology Vol. 17, No. 10, pp. 127-208. July 11, 1917. Hubbs, Brian. Mountain Kings. Tricolor Books, 2004.

Conservation Status
The following conservation status listings for this animal are taken from the July 2025 State of California Special Animals List and the July 2025 Federally Listed Endangered and Threatened Animals of California list (unless indicated otherwise below.) Both lists are produced by multiple agencies every year, and sometimes more than once per year, so the conservation status listing information found below might not be from the most recent lists, but they don't change a great deal from year to year.. To make sure you are seeing the most recent listings, go to this California Department of Fish and Wildlife web page where you can search for and download both lists: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CNDDB/Plants-and-Animals. A detailed explanation of the meaning of the status listing symbols can be found at the beginning of the two lists. For quick reference, I have included them on my Special Status Information page. If no status is listed here, the animal is not included on either list. This most likely indicates that there are no serious conservation concerns for the animal. To find out more about an animal's status you can also go to the NatureServe and IUCN websites to check their rankings. Check the current California Department of Fish and Wildlife sport fishing regulations to find out if this animal can be legally pursued and handled or collected with possession of a current fishing license. You can also look at the summary of the sport fishing regulations as they apply only to reptiles and amphibians that has been made for this website. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife affords protection to some populations of the species. The information below is about snakes that can be legally collected from the CDFW Sportfishing Regulations, which, unlike this web site, uses taxonomy that recognizes subspecies of L. zonata. Basically, L. zonata can be collected but the two southern California subspecies L. z. pulchra and L.z. parvirubra are protected, as well as all L. z. multifasciata found in Ventura County. OK to collect: "California mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata), except San Diego mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata pulchra) and San Bernardino mountain kingsnake (Lampropeltis zonata parvirubra): Limit: One (1). See Special Closure: (f) (9): (f) (9) *No California mountain kingsnakes (Lampropeltis zonata) may be taken in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Ventura counties*."
Organization	Status Listing	Notes
NatureServe Global Ranking	None
NatureServe State Ranking	None
U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA)	None
California Endangered Species Act (CESA)	None
California Department of Fish and Wildlife	None
Bureau of Land Management	None
USDA Forest Service	None
IUCN	None

Return to the Top