{"elementGlobalId":894283,"circumscripConfidence":null,"classificationLevel":{"id":7,"classificationLevelNameEn":"Species","classificationLevelNameEs":"Especies","classificationLevelNameFr":"Espèce"},"classificationStatus":{"id":1,"classificationStatusDescEn":"Standard","classificationStatusDescEs":"Estándar","classificationStatusDescFr":"Standard"},"iucn":{"id":11,"iucnDescEn":"Least concern","iucnDescEs":"Menos preocupante","iucnDescFr":"Moins préoccupante","iucnCode":"LC"},"nameCategory":{"id":1,"nameCategoryDescEn":"Vertebrate Animal","nameCategoryDescEs":"Animal vertebrado","nameCategoryDescFr":"Animal vertébré","nameTypeCd":"A","nameTypeDesc":"Zoological"},"rankMethodUsed":{"id":1,"rankMethodUsedDescEn":"Legacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x","rankMethodUsedDescEs":null,"rankMethodUsedDescFr":null,"rankMethodUsedExternalDescEn":"Ranked by calculator","rankMethodUsedExternalDescEs":null,"rankMethodUsedExternalDescFr":null},"formattedScientificName":"<i>Lampropeltis knoblochi</i>","scientificName":"Lampropeltis knoblochi","scientificNameAuthor":"Taylor, 1940","primaryCommonName":"Madrean Mountain Kingsnake","relatedItisNames":null,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.894283","elcode":"ARADB19070","conceptRefFullCitation":"Burbrink, F. T., H. Yao, M. Ingrasci, R. W. Bryson, Jr., T. J. Guiher, and S. Ruane. 2011. Speciation at the Mogollon Rim in the Arizona mountain kingsnake (<i>Lampropeltis pyromelana</i>). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 60:445-454.","conceptName":"<i>Lampropeltis knoblochi</i>","taxonomicComments":"Based on DNA data, Burbrink et al. (2011) determined that <i>Lampropeltis pyromelana</i> (as circumscribed by Stebbins 2003) comprises two distinct species, the northern <i>L. pyromelana</i> and southern <i>L. knoblochi</i> (primarily on the Sierra Madre Occidental and associated Madrean Sky Islands). This conclusion conformed with an earlier similar determination by Lemos-Espinal et al. (2003) and Lemos Espinal and Smith (2007), though the described distributions of the taxa do not entirely match.","roundedGRank":"G4","conservationStatusFactorsEditionDate":"2016-04-08","conservationStatusFactorsEditionAuthors":"Hammerson, G.","primaryCommonNameLanguage":"EN","recordType":"SPECIES","elementNationals":[{"elementNationalId":894284,"classifConfidence":null,"nation":{"id":225,"nameEn":"United States","nameEs":"Estados Unidos","nameFr":"États-Unis","isoCode":"US","region":"United States"},"roundedNRank":"N4","elementSubnationals":[{"elementSubnationalId":894286,"subnation":{"id":6,"nameEn":"Arizona","nameEs":"Arizona","nameFr":"Arizona","subnationCode":"AZ","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S3","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S3","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":894286,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":894288,"subnation":{"id":39,"nameEn":"New Mexico","nameEs":"Nuevo México","nameFr":"Nouveau-Mexique","subnationCode":"NM","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S1","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S1S2","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":894288,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"nrankReviewYear":2013,"nrank":"N4","speciesNational":{"elementNationalId":894284,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"lastModified":"2026-10-02T23:02:46.299555Z","lastPublished":"2026-10-02T21:32:08.892226Z","promotionalDescription":null,"conceptLineageSummary":null,"nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.894283/Lampropeltis_knoblochi","grankAdjustmentReasons":null,"grankChangeDate":"2013-07-12","grankReviewDate":"2016-04-08","grankReasons":"Range includes mountainous areas in southwestern United Stated and northern Mexico; known from a fairly large number of collection sites; trend uncertain but likely relatively stable; no known major threats.","grank":"G4","rankInfo":{"elementGlobalId":894283,"aooPercentGood":null,"enviromentalSpecificity":null,"intrinsicVulnerability":null,"longTermTrend":null,"numberEos":null,"numberGoodEos":null,"numberProtEos":null,"popSize":{"id":31,"popSizeDescEn":"10,000 - 100,000 individuals","popSizeDescEs":"De 10.000 a 100.000 individuos","popSizeDescFr":"De 10 000 à 100 000 individus"},"rangeExtent":{"id":30,"rangeExtentDescEn":"20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)","rangeExtentDescEs":"De 20.000 a 200.000 kilómetros cuadrados (aproximadamente 8.000 a 80.000.000 millas cuadradas)","rangeExtentDescFr":"De 20 000 à 200 000 km carrés (de 8 000 à 80 000 000 miles carrés approximativement)"},"shortTermTrend":{"id":40,"shortTermTrendDescEn":"Relatively Stable (<=10% change)","shortTermTrendDescEs":"Relativamente estable (variación = <10%)","shortTermTrendDescFr":"Relativement stable (variation = <10 %)"},"threatImpactAssigned":{"id":10,"threatImpactAssignedDescEn":"Low","threatImpactAssignedDescEs":"Bajo","threatImpactAssignedDescFr":"Faible"},"rangeExtentComments":"Range extends from the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico (eastern Sonora and western Chihuahua) northward to the Madrean Sky Islands (mountain ranges) in southern Arizona and southwestern New Mexico (Burbrink et al. 2011).","areaOfOccupancy":null,"areaOfOccupancyComments":null,"numberEosComments":"The number of distinct occurrences has not been determined using consistent criteria, but this species is represented by a fairly large number of collection sites and locations (as defined by IUCN).","popSizeComments":"Total adult population size is unknown but presumably exceeds 10,000 and perhaps exceeds 100,000. This species can be locally common in favorable habitat.","viabilityComments":null,"threatImpactComments":"Localized declines likely have occurred as a result of intensive habitat alteration and in some roadside populations readily accessible to collectors, but in most areas this snake is not threatened.","shortTermTrendComments":"Trend over the past 10 years or three generations is uncertain, but distribution and abundance probably have been relatively stable.","longTermTrendComments":null,"inventoryNeeds":null,"numberProtEosComments":null,"protectionNeeds":null,"otherConsiderations":null,"intrinsicVulnerabilityComments":null,"enviromentalSpecificityComments":null},"animalCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":894283,"majorHabitat":{"id":3,"majorHabitatDescEn":"Terrestrial","majorHabitatDescEs":"Terrestre","majorHabitatDescFr":"Terrestre"},"nonMigrant":true,"localMigrant":false,"longDistanceMigrant":false,"mobilityMigrationComments":null,"foodHabitsComments":"Diet includes lizards and presumably snakes and small mammals.","animalPhenologyComments":"Exhibits a generally diurnal activity pattern but may be most active during late afternoon, evening, and dusk (Ingrasci et al., 2004, Herpetol. Rev. 35:68-69).","colonialBreeder":false,"length":null,"width":null,"weight":null,"animalPhenologies":[{"animalCagPhenologyId":103724,"animalPhenology":{"id":1,"animalPhenologyDescEn":"Hibernates/aestivates","animalPhenologyDescEs":"Hibernación/Estivación","animalPhenologyDescFr":"Hiberne/estive","displayOrder":1},"adult":true,"immature":true}],"animalFoodHabits":[{"animalCagFoodHabitsId":106715,"foodHabits":{"id":1,"foodHabitsDescEn":"Carnivore","foodHabitsDescEs":"Carnívoro","foodHabitsDescFr":"Carnivore","displayOrder":1},"adult":true,"immature":true}]},"occurrenceDelineations":[{"eoSpecsDetailId":1142,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"eoSpecGroupName":"Medium And Large Colubrid Snakes","subtypes":null,"inferredExtentDistance":0.5,"inferredExtentNotes":null,"minimumEoCriteria":"Occurrences are based on evidence of historical presence, or current and likely recurring presence, at a given location. Such evidence minimally includes collection or reliable observation and documentation of one or more individuals (including eggs) in or near appropriate habitat where the species is presumed to be established and  breeding.","mappingGuidance":null,"separationBarriers":"Busy highway or highway with obstructions such that snakes rarely if ever cross successfully; major river, lake, pond, or deep marsh (this barrier pertains only to upland species and does not apply to aquatic or wetland snakes); densely urbanized area dominated by buildings and pavement.","separationDistanceUnsuitableHabitatat":1.0,"separationDistanceSuitableHabitatat":10.0,"altSeparationProcedure":null,"separationJustification":"Available information on movements of colubrid snakes is limited to a small minority of species. These data indicate that nearly all species have home ranges smaller or much smaller than 25 ha (e.g., less than 3 ha, <i>Pituophis catenifer</i> in California, Rodriguez-Robles 2003), with some up to about 75 ha (<i>Heterodon platirhinos</i>, average 50 ha, Plummer and Mills 2000), and the largest up to 225 ha in the biggest colubrids (<i>Drymarchon</i>, summer mean 50-100 ha, USFWS 1998). <br><br>Radiotelemetry data for <i>Pantherophis </i>indicate that residents of hibernacula that are 1-2 km apart (with suitable intervening habitat) probably interbreed (Prior et al. 1997, Blouin-Demers and Weatherhead 2002). However, \"evidence of genetic structure even over short distances (e.g., 2-20 km) implies that gene flow among rat snake populations can be easily disrupted\" (Prior et al. 1997). Loughheed et al. (1999) found evidence of substantial genetic exchange among local hibernacula (< 6 km apart), but gene flow over distances of 10s of km appears to be substantially less. Based on extensive radio-tracking data, Blouin-Demers and Weatherhead (2002) found that home range size of <i>Pantherophis </i>averaged 18.5 ha and ranged up to 93 ha; based on the most mobile individuals, <i>Pantherophis </i>from hibernacula up to 8 km apart can come together for mating. <i>Pantherophis </i>and probably other colubrids exhibit high fidelity to hibernacula and shift even to nearby sites only rarely (Prior et al. 2001). <br><br>Many of the several studies that report small home ranges for colubrids did not employ methods (e.g., radio telemetry) suitable for detecting full annual or multi-annual home range size, dispersal, or other long-distance movements, so these may have yielded underestimates of home ranges or activity areas.  <br><br>At least some colubrids, including medium-sized species such as garter snakes, not uncommonly move between areas up to a few kilometers apart, and several species make extensive movements of up to several kilometers, so separation distances of 1-2 km for suitable habitat are too small for medium-sized and large colubrids.<br><br>A separation distance of 10 km for suitable habitat was selected as most appropriate for snakes assigned to this Specs Group because it seems generally unlikely that two locations separated by less than 10 km of suitable habitat would represent distinct occurrences.<br><br>For the purposes of these occurrence specifications, upland habitat is regarded as unsuitable habitat for aquatic and wetland snakes. For upland snakes, shallow or patchy wetlands are treated as unsuitable habitat whereas large deepwater habitats (subjective determination) are barriers.","versionDate":"2013-02-12","versionAuthor":"Hammerson, G.","versionNotes":"Separation distance for suitable habitat was changed from 5 km to 10 km based on comments from Dale Jackson (12 Feb 2013).","lastModified":"2020-04-30T02:04:05.987846Z"}],"plantCharacteristics":null,"elementManagement":{"elementGlobalId":894283,"eoManagementGroupName":null,"stewardshipOverview":null,"impacts":null,"restorationPotential":null,"siteConservationPlansConsidered":null,"managementMethods":null,"monitoringMethods":null,"managementProgramContacts":null,"monitoringProgramContacts":null,"managementResearchPrograms":null,"managementResearchNeeds":null,"biologicalResearchNeeds":null,"additionalTopics":null},"occurrenceViabilities":[{"eoRankSpecsDetailId":189841,"eoRankSpecsGroupName":null,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"excellentViability":null,"goodViability":null,"fairViability":null,"poorViability":null,"viabilityJustification":"Use the Generic Guidelines for the Application of Occurrence Ranks (2008).<br>The Key for Ranking Species Occurrences Using the Generic Approach provides a step-wise process for implementing this method.","versionDate":null,"versionAuthor":null,"versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-05-14T05:50:54.502682Z"}],"references":[{"id":722493,"citation":"Burbrink, F. T., H. Yao, M. Ingrasci, R. W. Bryson, Jr., T. J. Guiher, and S. Ruane. 2011. Speciation at the Mogollon Rim in the Arizona mountain kingsnake (<i>Lampropeltis pyromelana</i>). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 60:445-454.","shortCitationAuthor":"Burbrink et al.","shortCitationYear":2011,"referenceCode":"A11BUR01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:22:30.766407Z"},{"id":722484,"citation":"Crother, B. I. (editor). 2012. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 7th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 39:1-92.","shortCitationAuthor":"Crother","shortCitationYear":2012,"referenceCode":"B12CRO01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:51.08501Z"},{"id":943912,"citation":"Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]","shortCitationAuthor":"Crother","shortCitationYear":2017,"referenceCode":"B17CRO01EHUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:53.413199Z"},{"id":103692,"citation":"Degenhardt, W. G., C. W. Painter, and A. H. Price. 1996. Amphibians and reptiles of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press, Albuquerque. xix + 431 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Degenhardt et al.","shortCitationYear":1996,"referenceCode":"B96DEG01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:51.303794Z"},{"id":169022,"citation":"Ernst, C. H., and E. M. Ernst. 2003. Snakes of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Books, Washington, D.C.","shortCitationAuthor":"Ernst and Ernst","shortCitationYear":2003,"referenceCode":"B03ERN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:51.08501Z"},{"id":722495,"citation":"Lemos Espinal, J. A., and H. M. Smith. 2007. Anfibios y reptiles del estado de Chuhuahua, Mexico. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.","shortCitationAuthor":"Lemos Espinal and Smith","shortCitationYear":2007,"referenceCode":"B07LEM01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:22:30.766407Z"},{"id":722494,"citation":"Lemos-Espinal, J. A., D. Chiszar, and H. M. Smith, 2003. Knobloch's king snake (<i>Lampropeltis pyromelana knoblochi</i>) of Mexico a species. Bulletin of the  Maryland Herpetological Society 39:53-58.","shortCitationAuthor":"Lemos-Espinal et al.","shortCitationYear":2003,"referenceCode":"A03LEM01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:22:30.766407Z"},{"id":266629,"citation":"Stebbins, R. C. 2003. A field guide to western reptiles and amphibians. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston.","shortCitationAuthor":"Stebbins","shortCitationYear":2003,"referenceCode":"B03STE01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:51.08501Z"},{"id":127863,"citation":"Tanner, W.W. 1983. <i>Lampropeltis pyromelana</i>. Cat. Am. Amph. Rep. 342.1-342.2.","shortCitationAuthor":"Tanner","shortCitationYear":1983,"referenceCode":"A83TAN02NAUS","lastModified":"2020-11-11T02:12:42.317783Z"}],"otherCommonNames":[{"id":198376,"name":"Knobloch's Mountain Kingsnake","language":"EN"}],"speciesGlobal":{"elementGlobalId":894283,"cites":null,"cosewic":null,"fwsRegion":null,"genusSize":{"id":3,"genusSizeDescEn":"Small genus","genusSizeDescEs":"Género pequeño","genusSizeDescFr":"Petit genre"},"jurisEndem":{"id":5,"jurisEndemDescEn":"occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations","jurisEndemDescEs":"Se encuentra en varias naciones (de manera regular, como un taxón nativo)","jurisEndemDescFr":"Se trouve dans plusieurs nations (de façon régulière, tel un taxon indigène)"},"nomenclaturallyEst":null,"usesa":null,"informalTaxonomy":{"informalTaxonomyId":7,"level1":"Animals","level2":"Vertebrates","level3":"Reptiles","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"parentId":2,"distributionStatus":"complete","displayOrder":1100},"parentSpecies":null,"infraspecies":false,"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Craniata","taxclass":"Reptilia","taxorder":"Squamata","family":"Colubridae","genus":"Lampropeltis","americanFisheriesStatus":null,"americanFisheriesStatusDate":null,"saraStatus":null,"saraStatusDate":null,"cosewicDate":null,"interpretedCosewic":null,"cosewicComments":null,"usesaDate":null,"interpretedUsesa":null,"usesaComments":null,"completeDistribution":true,"synonyms":[],"infraspeciesList":[],"ebarId":null,"ebarCanadianScope":false,"ebarGlobalScope":false,"ebarKbaGroup":"Amphibians and Reptiles","caGeneralStatusId":null},"speciesCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":894283,"reproductionComments":null,"ecologyComments":null,"habitatComments":"The following information, based mainly on <i>L. pyromelana</i>, also applies to <i>L. knoblochi</i>:<br /><br />Habitats are primarily rocky, montane, and often near streams or springs, but also include lower elevations in mesic canyons (Degenhardt et al. 1996, Tanner 1983, Ernst and Ernst 2003, Stebbins 2003). Vegetation may include pinyon-juniper woodland, oak-juniper woodland, pine-oak woodland, pine-Douglas-fir woodland, or chaparral (Stebbins 2003). During daylight hours, this snake may be found among rocks, logs, or dense clumps of vegetation, under objects, or exposed.","generalDescription":null,"diagnosticCharacteristics":null,"speciesMarineHabitats":[],"speciesTerrestrialHabitats":[{"cagTerrHabId":-113721,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":5,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Woodland - Conifer","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Lote de madera - Conífera","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Terrain boisé — Résineux","displayOrder":7}},{"cagTerrHabId":-113722,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":6,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Woodland - Mixed","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Lote de madera - Mixto","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Terrain boisé — Mixte","displayOrder":8}},{"cagTerrHabId":-113723,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":7,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Shrubland/chaparral","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Matorral/Chaparral","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Fruticée/Chaparral","displayOrder":9}},{"cagTerrHabId":-113724,"terrestrialHabitat":{"id":17,"terrestrialHabitatDescEn":"Bare rock/talus/scree","terrestrialHabitatDescEs":"Roca viva/pendiente de roca/piedras sueltas","terrestrialHabitatDescFr":"Éboulis","displayOrder":20}}],"speciesRiverineHabitats":[],"speciesPalustrineHabitats":[{"cagPalusHabId":-104253,"palustrineHabitat":{"id":6,"palustrineHabitatDescEn":"Riparian","palustrineHabitatDescEs":"Ribereño","palustrineHabitatDescFr":"Riverain","displayOrder":6}}],"speciesLacustrineHabitats":[],"speciesSubterraneanHabitats":[],"speciesEstuarineHabitats":[]},"primaryReference":{"id":943912,"citation":"Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]","shortCitationAuthor":"Crother","shortCitationYear":2017,"referenceCode":"B17CRO01EHUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:53.413199Z"},"predecessors":[],"elementGlobalThreatAssessments":[]}