The anal plate is not divided (Ernst and Barbour 1989), an attribute that can be used to distinguish the Milksnake from nominally similar species. The scales are smooth and there are 19-23 scale rows at midbody (Harding 1997). Dyrkacz (1977) found that the colour of hatchlings maintained in captivity darkened with age. Juvenile Milksnakes have brighter red or maroon coloured blotches on a pale grey background (Harding 1997 see Figure 2). The ventral surface has a black rectangular checkerboard pattern on a grey, tan, or white background (Conant and Collins 1991, Christie 1997).
The blotches, ranging from 24-54 in number (Williams 1994), are outlined in black, and alternate with 1 or 2 rows of smaller dark blotches running down each side (Harding 1997). Photo: Kathryn Stewart.ĭescription: The Eastern Milksnake (Figure 1) is a slender medium-sized snake, up to 92 cm snout-vent length (Row and Blouin-Demers 2006a), with large brown or reddish brown dorsal blotches on a grey or tan (sometimes pinkish) background (Harding 1997). Adult eastern milksnake from Massasauga Tract, Queen's University Biological Station.
The common name comes from the false belief that milksnakes would enter barns at night and milk cows however their jaw and needle-like teeth are unsuitable for sucking (Ernst and Barbour 1989).įigure 1. ( Lampropeltis means “shiny shield” (Tyning 1990) in reference to the smooth unkeeled dorsal scales (Logier 1958) triangulum comes from the Latin triangulus, meaning “triangle” and refers to the shape of the first blotch on the head of the Eastern Milksnake (Williams 1994). Species: Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum (Lacépède, 1788). Eastern Milksnake / Couleuvre tachetée ( Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum)ĭepartment of Biology, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON Canada K7L 3N6Įmail: Class: Reptilia.
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