Speckled kingsnake (Lampropeltis holbrooki)
The speckled kingsnake is a non-venomous snake in the family Colubridae. GBIF holds 1,034 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 12 states, most of all Oklahoma (263), Kansas (254) and Texas (171). Its observation records peak in May.
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The speckled kingsnake (Lampropeltis holbrooki) is a species of nonvenomous kingsnake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the United States.
From Wikipedia: Speckled kingsnake, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is the speckled kingsnake poisonous or venomous?
No. The speckled kingsnake is non-venomous: it belongs to the family Colubridae, not to the pit vipers or coral snakes, the only U.S. land snakes with medically dangerous venom. It may bite if handled; clean the bite like any small wound.
Which states have the speckled kingsnake?
Records are spread over 12 states; the top three, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, hold 67% of them.
The count includes 242 records filed under the older name Lampropeltis getula in Arkansas (18), Iowa (3), Kansas (134), Missouri (9), Nebraska (13) and Oklahoma (65).
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | 263 | 2.0% | 19th of 50 |
| 2 | Kansas | 254 | 1.7% | 20th of 44 |
| 3 | Texas | 171 | 0.4% | 48th of 86 |
| 4 | Arkansas | 122 | 2.3% | 8th of 36 |
| 5 | Louisiana | 115 | 2.3% | 12th of 41 |
| 6 | Missouri | 42 | 2.2% | 13th of 36 |
| 7 | Mississippi | 39 | 2.1% | 14th of 38 |
| 8 | Nebraska | 19 | 0.8% | 19th of 31 |
| 9 | Colorado | 2 | 0.1% | 24th of 26 |
| 10 | Alabama | 1 | 0.0% | 43rd of 44 |
| 11 | Tennessee | 1 | 0.0% | 30th of 32 |
| 12 | New Mexico | 0 | — | — |
When is the speckled kingsnake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the speckled kingsnake run mostly March through October, peaking in May with 27% of them. Winter (December to February) holds 4% of them.
Season by state
Among states whose main season falls within one calendar year, it starts earliest in February (Mississippi) and latest in April (Kansas and Missouri). The most common peak months are April and May, each shared by three states.
| State | Main season | Peak month | Observation records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas | March through July | May | 90 |
| Texas | March through November | May | 87 |
| Louisiana | March through October | April | 68 |
| Kansas | April through September | April | 35 |
| Mississippi | February through October | May | 34 |
| Missouri | April through August | April | 30 |
Where the speckled kingsnake is recorded in each state
Oklahoma
Oklahoma holds 263 licensed records, the 19th most recorded of 50 snakes listed there. Most of its licensed records in Oklahoma come from LeFlore County, Cleveland County and Comanche County. Next come Atoka County (14) and Marshall County (12).
Kansas
Kansas holds 254 licensed records, the 20th most recorded of 44 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Kansas run mostly April through September, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Douglas County, Ellis County and Barton County. Next come Ellsworth County (11) and Barber County (10).
Texas
Texas holds 171 licensed records, the 48th most recorded of 86 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Texas run mostly March through November, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Brazos County, Harrison County and Jefferson County. Next come Bowie County (7) and Galveston County (7).
Arkansas
Arkansas holds 122 licensed records, the 8th most recorded of 36 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Arkansas run mostly March through July, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Sebastian County, Washington County and Pulaski County. Next come Columbia County (8) and Polk County (7).
Louisiana
Louisiana holds 115 licensed records, the 12th most recorded of 41 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Louisiana run mostly March through October, peaking in April; most licensed records come from East Baton Rouge Parish, Saint Tammany Parish and Cameron Parish. Next come Jackson Parish (8) and Calcasieu Parish (7).
Missouri
Missouri holds 42 licensed records, the 13th most recorded of 36 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Missouri run mostly April through August, peaking in April; most licensed records come from Jefferson County, Texas County and Washington County. Next come Iron County (2) and Phelps County (2).
Mississippi
Mississippi holds 39 licensed records, the 14th most recorded of 38 snakes listed there. Its observation records in Mississippi run mostly February through October, peaking in May; most licensed records come from Simpson County, Jackson County and Pearl River County. Next come Rankin County (4) and Lafayette County (3).
Top counties in the U.S.
| # | County | State | Records | Share of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | East Baton Rouge Parish | Louisiana | 24 | 2.3% |
| 2 | Douglas County | Kansas | 23 | 2.2% |
| 3 | LeFlore County | Oklahoma | 22 | 2.1% |
| 4 | Cleveland County | Oklahoma | 20 | 1.9% |
| 5 | Sebastian County | Arkansas | 19 | 1.8% |
| 6 | Brazos County | Texas | 18 | 1.7% |
| 7 | Ellis County | Kansas | 16 | 1.5% |
| 8 | Comanche County | Oklahoma | 16 | 1.5% |
| 9 | Saint Tammany Parish | Louisiana | 14 | 1.4% |
| 10 | Atoka County | Oklahoma | 14 | 1.4% |
| 11 | Barton County | Kansas | 13 | 1.3% |
| 12 | Marshall County | Oklahoma | 12 | 1.2% |
| 13 | Ellsworth County | Kansas | 11 | 1.1% |
| 14 | Tulsa County | Oklahoma | 11 | 1.1% |
| 15 | Harrison County | Texas | 11 | 1.1% |
How recent are the speckled kingsnake records?
The speckled kingsnake record leans on older material: only 34% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 2000. The oldest dated record is from 1852; the busiest year was 2020, with 62 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1850s | 2 | 0.2% |
| 1880s | 4 | 0.4% |
| 1890s | 4 | 0.4% |
| 1900s | 11 | 1.1% |
| 1910s | 5 | 0.5% |
| 1920s | 35 | 3.5% |
| 1930s | 72 | 7.1% |
| 1940s | 62 | 6.2% |
| 1950s | 61 | 6.1% |
| 1960s | 93 | 9.2% |
| 1970s | 72 | 7.1% |
| 1980s | 51 | 5.1% |
| 1990s | 31 | 3.1% |
| 2000s | 113 | 11.2% |
| 2010s | 131 | 13.0% |
| 2020s | 261 | 25.9% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 191 counties where the speckled kingsnake is most recorded, 67 are also top counties for both the DeKay's brown snake and the rough greensnake; no other snake shares more. Venomous species among its neighbors: the eastern copperhead.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| DeKay's brown snake | 67 |
| Rough greensnake | 67 |
| Eastern racer | 66 |
| Plain-bellied watersnake | 62 |
| Eastern copperhead venomous | 60 |
| Western rat snake | 60 |
| Common garter snake | 54 |
| Ring-necked snake | 54 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other species of the genus Lampropeltis with profiles here: Eastern milksnake, California kingsnake, Prairie kingsnake, Eastern kingsnake, California mountain kingsnake, Mole kingsnake, Central plains milksnake and Eastern black kingsnake.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.