ANIMAL: Honduran Milksnake Lampropeltis hondurensis Type of Animal: Colubrid Habitat: Subtropical/tropical forests, grasslands, lower mountainous areas Location(s): Honduras, Nicaragua, & NE Costa Rica Appearance: Broad snout band of yellow/white & second band at head base w/ same color w/ black head balance, tricolor phase w/ red ground color & yellow/white bands w/ same bands on belly, tangerine phase has black, red/orange, & orange bands w/ same bands on belly, many morphs occur in captivity, young darker than adults, males have longer thicker tails Food/Diet: Other snakes (including members of own species & venomous species), lizards, small mammals, birds, eggs, frogs Status in Wild: Stable Conservation: Breeding in zoos, nature centers, & herpetoculture Lifestyle: Solitary Additional Info: Called: Male Female Young-Hatchling Group-Solitary Weight: Male-2.3 lbs Female-2.8 lbs Gestation: 2 months Life Span: 15-20 years Body Length: Male-5 ft Female-6 ft Young-1.5-2 ft Tail Length: Male-1.5 ft Female-1.3 ft Main predators are raptors, felines, larger snakes, crocodilians, coatis, & foxes. These nonvenomous snakes kill prey by constriction. Sexually mature at 1.5 years. Females lay 3-18 eggs per clutch. People kill them due to them being mistaken for venomous coral snakes. Usually flees if threatened but will bite/musk if cornered. They’re nocturnal in summer & diurnal in spring & fall. Warmer egg temps usually create males while cooler temps create females. They’re valuable in that they eat rodents & venomous snakes. These snakes are closely related to kingsnakes. They’re one of the larger milksnakes. Fun Fact(s): They’ll often use jerky movements showing their bands to deter predators. When they shake their tail quickly, it sounds like a rattlesnake. These snakes make great pets, due to docile nature. Mimicry of venomous coral snakes helps protect them from predators. Called milk snakes due to incorrect belief that they drank milk from cow udders, because they were seen in barns & stables.
