Western Riverside Co. is like home to me. I lived there a lot of years and have herped there since 1990. Up until 2003 I had only found banded kingsnakes until one day me, my brother, and his friend went out herping. That day I flipped my first Riverside striper and I was completely surprised to find it. Up until then, I was only aware of them being found around San Diego. I really wish I had taken pictures of him. he was the normal dark brown and yellow with high aberrancies on the sides with a completely brown belly and all yellow under the tail.
This shot was taken in April 2005 when I first started taking photographs in the field. I was using a disposable camera.I used them for a couple of months until I decided to get a digital camera, so I could start posting on FHF. This is the first Cal king I photographed in the field.
Here is a typical juvenile for the area. They are normally nearly black but one time
I did find a juvenile with a lighter shade of brown than normal, but that was only
one. There is not much variation of brown in this part of the County.
I did find a juvenile with a lighter shade of brown than normal, but that was only
one. There is not much variation of brown in this part of the County.
Like most of the Cal kings I find, this one was found under a board. I really like the
way this photo turned out. I didn't realize how much I'd like it until I got home
and uploaded it to my computer.
way this photo turned out. I didn't realize how much I'd like it until I got home
and uploaded it to my computer.
Here is the photo of the lightest colored juvenile I've ever seen in Western
Riverside Co. This would be pretty normal in San Diego, but here it was a very
nice find. I can only imagine how nice it would have looked as an adult. This king
was found during the great drought of 2007. It was bone dry where I found him
near Lake Perris.
Riverside Co. This would be pretty normal in San Diego, but here it was a very
nice find. I can only imagine how nice it would have looked as an adult. This king
was found during the great drought of 2007. It was bone dry where I found him
near Lake Perris.
This was a special find because I found him in December when snakes of all
species are hard to find under AC. I must have flipped a couple hundred boards
that day before turning up this little guy. That's one thing I love about Southern
California, snakes can be found every month of the year down here.
species are hard to find under AC. I must have flipped a couple hundred boards
that day before turning up this little guy. That's one thing I love about Southern
California, snakes can be found every month of the year down here.
This is an example of a very large adult from Western Riverside Co. The band
width is very typical for this part of the County. He was found under a 4x8 piece
of plywood. Probably my largest flipped Cal king ever. This snake was found near
a very popular boa spot by Lake Perris California.
width is very typical for this part of the County. He was found under a 4x8 piece
of plywood. Probably my largest flipped Cal king ever. This snake was found near
a very popular boa spot by Lake Perris California.
A faded out adult.
I found this in the road near Lake Elsinore. The Long-nosed was smashed flatter
than the king, so I think the king started to eat the DOR then became a DOR.
than the king, so I think the king started to eat the DOR then became a DOR.
Striped kings in Riverside Co. differ from stripers in S.D. Co. The main differences I've noticed is the yellow and brown aberrancies on the sides, which takes place of the speckling you often see in S.D. stripers. Also, striped kings in Riverside Co. will often have checkered patterns on the belly like a banded kingsnake. Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, those are the differences. This first one has very clean sides. On the very lower part of the side you see the yellow and brown aberrancies where you would normally see rows of speckling in S.D. Co. stripers. This was my first striper since the first one I found in 2003. Three years go by before I see my next striper but I found it
in the worst way. I ran it over! I couldn't believe it when I went back to see what I hit and it was this little guy photoed above. I made up for 5 days later on that September night of 2006 near Lake Elsinore when I found another striped king, but this one had abnormally high aberrancies on the side and was found on the same stretch of road as the first. That one is coming up several more pictures down.
in the worst way. I ran it over! I couldn't believe it when I went back to see what I hit and it was this little guy photoed above. I made up for 5 days later on that September night of 2006 near Lake Elsinore when I found another striped king, but this one had abnormally high aberrancies on the side and was found on the same stretch of road as the first. That one is coming up several more pictures down.
Most of the stripers I've found in this part of the county have had 2nd and 3rd
stripes on the sides above the yellow and brown aberrancies. Some are well
developed, while others are reduced to speckling. In this individual, they are
reduced to very slight speckling, the most I've seen them reduced. This king was
also found crossing a road. I was cruising for boas and was surprised when I
found a striped king.
stripes on the sides above the yellow and brown aberrancies. Some are well
developed, while others are reduced to speckling. In this individual, they are
reduced to very slight speckling, the most I've seen them reduced. This king was
also found crossing a road. I was cruising for boas and was surprised when I
found a striped king.
In this individual the side stripes are developed much better than the last but
you can still see areas where they are reduced to speckling. If you look close
at high spotted stripers from S.D., you can often times see these side stripes
burly showing through the speckling. Even though a lot of those snakes have
well defined side stripes, they are not called triple stripers because of the lack of
contrast due to the amount of speckling. The side stripes on this individual may
not be developed enough to consider it a triple striped king. This king was
found in Murrieta under very dry conditions in 2007.
you can still see areas where they are reduced to speckling. If you look close
at high spotted stripers from S.D., you can often times see these side stripes
burly showing through the speckling. Even though a lot of those snakes have
well defined side stripes, they are not called triple stripers because of the lack of
contrast due to the amount of speckling. The side stripes on this individual may
not be developed enough to consider it a triple striped king. This king was
found in Murrieta under very dry conditions in 2007.
The side stripes in this individual are even more developed than the previous
individual. You never really lose the speckling on the end of the side stripe near
the tail. This snake was found road cruising May of 2007 about a hundred yards
from the spot where I ran over that first striper .
individual. You never really lose the speckling on the end of the side stripe near
the tail. This snake was found road cruising May of 2007 about a hundred yards
from the spot where I ran over that first striper .
I thought the vertebral stripe was interesting. Its only about a half scale wide
in a lot of areas.
in a lot of areas.
And a bit of a checkered pattern on the ventral's.
This is the nicest individual I've found. I call these Riverside high yellow striped
kings.
kings.
This dotted king was also found near Lake Elsinore and I consider it one of my best finds ever. I found it at my favorite AC spot after 11 years of searching. Until then, I had only found one striper there and the rest were banded. Cal kings
are hard to find in this area and I consider my self lucky if I find 2 during the Spring here. There are tons of other species in this area but for some reason Cal kings are hard to come by. Maybe its the habitat that just isn't favorable for flipping AC. Hubbs has found an area where these are more common, but in my neck of the woods, this is the first I've seen in over 20 years herping Western Riverside Co. Dotted kings are highly variable with most individuals having a mixture of striping, dashes, and bars in the pattern. The best examples are those with the most complete dots in the pattern. Only one wild example is known with a nearly, if not all, dotted pattern. Its a pickled specimen featured in Brian Hubbs book on Common kingsnakes.
are hard to find in this area and I consider my self lucky if I find 2 during the Spring here. There are tons of other species in this area but for some reason Cal kings are hard to come by. Maybe its the habitat that just isn't favorable for flipping AC. Hubbs has found an area where these are more common, but in my neck of the woods, this is the first I've seen in over 20 years herping Western Riverside Co. Dotted kings are highly variable with most individuals having a mixture of striping, dashes, and bars in the pattern. The best examples are those with the most complete dots in the pattern. Only one wild example is known with a nearly, if not all, dotted pattern. Its a pickled specimen featured in Brian Hubbs book on Common kingsnakes.
Brown bellies in stripers are not common, so that just added to the uniqueness
of this snake to me. About 1/3 of the ventral pattern isn't solid brown, though.
of this snake to me. About 1/3 of the ventral pattern isn't solid brown, though.
I couldn't have found this snake at a better time. A year previous, I had learned partial barred morphs had been found in Western Riverside Co. and I knew the possibility of finding a completely barred morph in my area was there. I thought I would increase my chances of finding one by looking in wetter habitats in my area, but as fate would have it, I found this snake at a spot I had been going to for years.
The funny thing is that because of its pattern, it looked just like a normal
banded king when I first lifted the board. It wasn't until about 5 seconds later
I realized this snake was aberrant. Its hard to describe the excitement, but its
something that lasts for weeks and even months in my case. lol I feel the same
way about every aberrant king I find, because in most cases, they are very
uncommon. Like the dotted kings, barred morphs are highly variable with most
examples having stripes, dots, and dashes in their pattern. This example is
nearly a perfect one.
banded king when I first lifted the board. It wasn't until about 5 seconds later
I realized this snake was aberrant. Its hard to describe the excitement, but its
something that lasts for weeks and even months in my case. lol I feel the same
way about every aberrant king I find, because in most cases, they are very
uncommon. Like the dotted kings, barred morphs are highly variable with most
examples having stripes, dots, and dashes in their pattern. This example is
nearly a perfect one.
In 2006 my friend Mike showed me some boards he found up in the hills. We
flipped this king and Gopher under one of them. Little did I know this king would
turn out to be partially aberrant.
flipped this king and Gopher under one of them. Little did I know this king would
turn out to be partially aberrant.
He had bars on the last 1/3 of his body. I had never found a king like this before,
so I was pretty excited to see this one.
so I was pretty excited to see this one.
The bottom part of the last 1/3 was identical to a striped king. This is why some
Cal kings are aberrant. Its the mixing of the striped and banded patterns on the
same snake.
Cal kings are aberrant. Its the mixing of the striped and banded patterns on the
same snake.
A DOR found on Hwy 79 about 20 miles East of Temecula.
This one was also found on the same night on Hwy 79 about 10 miles into San
Diego County.
Diego County.
Whitewater Canyon Riverside County. This is one of the most popular herping areas in th U.S. and a place I spent a lot of time night driving back in 2005. Its a special place for me because its the first place I ever road cruised for snakes back in 1991, and the first place I found a CA kingsnake. A lot of people come here for the boas, but my top priority has always been to find kingsnakes here. Of course boas, Specks, and ruber are always something I like seeing here.
Fish and Game officer Kyle Chang. One night in 05 I was driving along WW when all the sudden I see a black & white banded snake on the side of the road. I stopped fast and shined my lite out the window to see if it was a Long nose or
Cal king. It was a black rope with white tape raped around it creating rings down the length of the rope. Right away I knew what it was. It was a decoy set out by CA fish & game. I knew this because one of my friends had the same thing
happen to him. Not 3 seconds after I stopped a truck with flashing lights comes driving out from a dirt road and pulls up behind me. It was Chang. All he asked me for was my fishing license, which I showed him. Since then he had got me
several times and was always cool to talk to. Sometimes I was there in a car he didn't recognize and pulled me over but wouldn't ask for my license. One time he got me with a little plastic lizard. Another time I seen his decoy but didn't
recognize it for a split second and slammed on my breaks but quickly released them because I realized what it was. Right after that I honked the horn while driving away. I heard another horn honk off in the bushes. lol He knew it was me.
Cal king. It was a black rope with white tape raped around it creating rings down the length of the rope. Right away I knew what it was. It was a decoy set out by CA fish & game. I knew this because one of my friends had the same thing
happen to him. Not 3 seconds after I stopped a truck with flashing lights comes driving out from a dirt road and pulls up behind me. It was Chang. All he asked me for was my fishing license, which I showed him. Since then he had got me
several times and was always cool to talk to. Sometimes I was there in a car he didn't recognize and pulled me over but wouldn't ask for my license. One time he got me with a little plastic lizard. Another time I seen his decoy but didn't
recognize it for a split second and slammed on my breaks but quickly released them because I realized what it was. Right after that I honked the horn while driving away. I heard another horn honk off in the bushes. lol He knew it was me.
Here's a photo of the decoy. My photos were lost when my old computer crashed.
These photos are scanned versions of my original photos.
These photos are scanned versions of my original photos.
My favorite kingsnakes here are the ones with wide white bands. Here are a
couple of kings I found like that in 05.
couple of kings I found like that in 05.
It was on an October night in 2005 when I came up on this king just like this in
the road. I snapped this shot then reached down to pick it up. I was shocked
when I realized it was dead, it didn't even look dead. I looked at it really close
and showed it to my friend out there along with his friend and we couldn't find
any injuries on it at all. It was one of the nicer kings I had seen out there.
the road. I snapped this shot then reached down to pick it up. I was shocked
when I realized it was dead, it didn't even look dead. I looked at it really close
and showed it to my friend out there along with his friend and we couldn't find
any injuries on it at all. It was one of the nicer kings I had seen out there.
In Sept. 2005 we got a good bit of rain one day, so I decided to hit WW the next day. that night the activity was way up compared to a week before and after. I ended up finding 11 snakes that night, which is pretty good for that time of year.
One snake I didn't see until I was right up on it and couldn't stop until I passed it. I knew right away it was a king and ran back with my flashlight (a common occurrence for me while night driving lol). As soon as my light hit the snake I noticed it was a much lighter shade of brown than I've ever seen on a king out there. It was a yearling too and those are always nearly black.
One snake I didn't see until I was right up on it and couldn't stop until I passed it. I knew right away it was a king and ran back with my flashlight (a common occurrence for me while night driving lol). As soon as my light hit the snake I noticed it was a much lighter shade of brown than I've ever seen on a king out there. It was a yearling too and those are always nearly black.
I collected the snake and continued driving. Every 20 minutes or so, I would
stop and take a look at the snake. I couldn't get its colors off my mind. At first I
was thinking maybe this was the offspring of a lighter brown king someone let
go out there. I don't know why but it wasn't until a few days later that it dawned
on me this snake was probably hypomelanistic. As a yearling.
stop and take a look at the snake. I couldn't get its colors off my mind. At first I
was thinking maybe this was the offspring of a lighter brown king someone let
go out there. I don't know why but it wasn't until a few days later that it dawned
on me this snake was probably hypomelanistic. As a yearling.
Subadult
As I got to looking at photographs of similar looking kings from other desert
locales, I noticed they were not as light as this one. That's when I became
convinced this snake was really hypo. I consider this the best king I've ever found,
not only because its hypo, but because this morph isn't recurring (although hypos
appear to pop up more often near Sacramento and El Dorado Co.) like Newporters,
Striped, Eiseni, and Delta morphs. You can expect to turn one of those up sooner
or later within their range, but hypos pop up randomly and rarely anywhere, like
albinos. I feel real lucky to have found this girl.
locales, I noticed they were not as light as this one. That's when I became
convinced this snake was really hypo. I consider this the best king I've ever found,
not only because its hypo, but because this morph isn't recurring (although hypos
appear to pop up more often near Sacramento and El Dorado Co.) like Newporters,
Striped, Eiseni, and Delta morphs. You can expect to turn one of those up sooner
or later within their range, but hypos pop up randomly and rarely anywhere, like
albinos. I feel real lucky to have found this girl.
Here's an old FHF post from 2005 after I found the hypo Whitewater king. As you can
see there were different opinions on it. Its funny looking back at these old posts how
we went back and forth.
see there were different opinions on it. Its funny looking back at these old posts how
we went back and forth.
There's a missing page here
Now here is a post put out by rpecora (Mike Pecora). He took a picture of these kings he
called brown phase. Turns out this was just a normal WW king. Some are lighter brown
than others and that's pretty much what he had.
called brown phase. Turns out this was just a normal WW king. Some are lighter brown
than others and that's pretty much what he had.