Kings of the Great Valley

[David Tobler]

I compiled a few pictures of some California Kingnsnakes I've found/seen in the San Joaquin Valley of California. This is the "big game" herp for me, in my area. I do enjoy finding and photographing these valley kings, more than any other herp species.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/owenwilsnose1/cal%20kings/valleylightkingearly07.jpg

This adult male had a very light brown color with white bands, not typical of what is usually seen on the valley floor.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/owenwilsnose1/cal%20kings/valleyearlyking06.jpg

This young king has the classic valley look in my mind. Very dark base coloration with thin, yellow-tinted bands.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/owenwilsnose1/cal%20kings/femalebbearly06a.jpg

Here's one of the many 'Eiseni' phase kings I've found in the valley. This adult female exhibits all the traits typical of this aberrant form. Darker overall coloration, dark markings through the upper labial scales, nearly solid black or chocolate colored belly. (not seen in picture) They are often called "black bellies" because of this trait.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/owenwilsnose1/cal%20kings/valleykinghubbs07.jpg

One of the few cal kings seen this year. Conditions were terribly dry, this king was found under a wet mattress! Kings tend to be very picky about the moisture levels under cover. Dry years, you'll often find them under and in carpet rolls, mattresses, yard clippings, blankets, and anything else that soaks up water. Wet years, they seek out warm roofing tins, sheet metal, roofing shingles, plywood boards, concrete and anything else that transfers heat well.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/owenwilsnose1/cal%20kings/valleykingearly07.jpg

This king was a early bird. I flipped him in late January. Most young king activity starts near the end of Feb. Males emerge in March and Female come full swing by April.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/owenwilsnose1/cal%20kings/calkingcloseclovis07.jpg

This sub adult male came from down the street from where I live. I do like the coloration and pattern on this one, with his black-edged band scales.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/owenwilsnose1/cal%20kings/bbfemaleearly07.jpg

Another female aberrant found under some tin. She was one of six from a day (in a good year) that should of produced 20+ kings. So much depends on the weather!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/owenwilsnose1/cal%20kings/psking1006a.jpg

There's two times in the year when you can flip cal kings in the valley. Early spring and early Fall. I flipped this female last October under some roofing shingles.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y124/owenwilsnose1/cal%20kings/photoshoppedking.jpg

My prize for this year. A nice little aberrant male showing off his striped tail pattern for me.

Thanks for looking.

[Filthy Sanchez]

Nice pics, never got into the big constrictors. I like colubrids and kings have always been my favorite. I've had 4 over the years. The stand out black and white morphs are simply gorgeous.

[Miguel]

David, how can you say whether its males or females in King's? Care to explain?

[davo]

You sex them when you find them? Very nice pictures, I enjoyed reading through your post. I like them with a really dark black base colour, beautiful. Late january eh... that does sound early.

[Euge]

always enjoy lookin at yourp ics. simply stunning

[Danyal]

amazing pics, i grew up south of you (woodlake) we used to have a decent population of chocolate brown kings, i think they were my favorite local phase. could you please explain what an Eiseni phase is?

[dougefresh]

Very cool pics David........your work with these kings is really interesting.......

[davo]

Very cool pics David........your work with these kings is really interesting.......

lol with that, I just remembered I've heard your name before somewhere. Crazy lol.. Wondered why you'd sex them.

[Vicious_Fish]

Once again, very nice pics!

[Miguel]

They are, indeed..still would like to know how David sexes them....

[Danyal]

i believe that a fairly reliable method is the size/shape of the tail after the anus but you have to be very familiar with the species.

[Miguel]

I hear its nigh impossible...

[Jessica Dring]

It is extremely hard unless you have extremely similar sized male and females held up at the same time to you

[David Tobler]

Thanks for the compliments everyone.

To answer everyone's questions about how I'm determining the gender on the snakes I find. First off, usually it's very easy to tell by the shape and size of the tail in adult snakes. Every now and then you have an individual that's inbetween. Not all male kings have large, thick tails. Every now and then you'll get a female with a big thick tail, usually if she's over the 4' mark.

Simply probing the snake to determine the gender is often done while in the field. Smaller kings, usually under 2', can be "popped". Meaning the hemipenes can gently be everted. Males will show the long, red colored hemipenes. While females will show the short, white colored, red tipped scent glands.

An interesting thing about female kingsnakes, is that they're more likely to musk on you! Females will often bleed slightly from the cloaca or scent glands.

I think I mentioned in a previous post on here about the 'Eiseni' aberrant kings, how they are sexually dimorphic. I've found males typically have some sort of striped pattern or abarrancy on the tail. Females will just be banded or only have horizontal half band markings. I believe this odd occurance to be soley structural. I have serveral other hypothesis on these kings, that I'll be working on in the years to come.

Oh and Woodlake, would more than likely have the very same kings. I've yet to search that area though.

[Miguel]

Thank you for the info, David.

[mjmc]

Beautiful snakes. Great job!

[Danyal]

<Oh and Woodlake, would more than likely have the very same kings. I've yet to search that area though>
don't bother, except for the occasional matress or sheet of ply in a field you'll have a hard time finding snakes. the best way is to go out in the surrounding foothills and in three rivers.