California King Snake
Individual variations within the species could be very special, and California king snake variety makes a perfect illustration of such cases. Thus, the morphology variability makes the California king snake more difficult to identify correctly when lacking complete knowledge about the possible individual feature manifestations. Thus, some snakes could be almost black in color with a yellow band in the mid of the back, while other California king snake varieties could be dark brown but white or yellow-ringed, with the lighter colors arranged in a perpendicular body pattern. A more clear description can be made when analyzing the size of the snake: California king snake can be up to 70 inches long, with a two or three inch split tail.
California king snake varieties do not stand apart from other snake sub-categories in anatomy of the halved jaws joint by elastic tissue only. Without this anatomical advantage, the snake couldn’t devour a prey that is very often bigger than the snake’s diameter. When it comes to behavior traits, California king snake would choose hidden abodes in solitary natural environment where the possibility to encounter larger predators is lower. Its diet consists of rodents, small birds, lizards and frogs. The only time of the year when California king snake is found in the company of its species mates is winter when these creatures get together in common dens to hibernate.
California king snake specimens have the reputation of eating each other or feeding even on venomous snakes. California king snake is not a venomous snake but a constrictor that squeezes its prey with the coils and then eats it. As for the consume of venomous snakes, in the past scientists believed that snakes have an innate immunity to venom, now more advanced research studies in the matter indicate not immunity but superior body tolerance to venom exposure. Biting could be a problem for the encounter of a California king snake and a human, but it will only attack if if feels threatened.
Among the flaws of California king snake poor eyesight and a poor ability to focus could be mentioned among other things; these small difficulties are due to the anatomical position of the snake’s eyes on the sides of the head. A smart prey will know that if remaining still in the presence of this California king snake, it has higher chances to remain unspotted. The snake relies on identifying the prey in motion in order to be able to hunt it but it is worth saying that this creature has a very well-developed sense of hearing as it can recognize low frequency sounds and various vibrations. Definitely such abilities make hunting a lot easier.