Lampropeltis calligaster
—
Prairie Kingsnake
Something was seriously wrong with this snake's head. It was noticeably asymmetrical from the front, and just generally the wrong shape. Also the snake's jaw didn't close properly and it had some kind of crud on its face. It's possible this snake was a victim of the dreaded Snake Fungal Disease, though its body seemed to be in good shape and it moved fairly normally other than the way it held its head.
Online references:
- Lampropeltis calligaster account on The Reptile Database
Printed references:
- Conant, R., Collins, J. T. 1998. Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Third Edition, expanded
- Crother, B. I. (ed.) 2017. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, Eighth Edition
- Ernst, C. H., Ernst, E. M. 2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada