The common kingsnake, Lampropeltis getula, was once a species that consisted of at least seven subspecies that, when considered as a group, ranged from coast to coast, from New Jersey to Florida in the east and from southern Oregon to the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula in the west.

These kingsnakes, although present in somewhat lessened numbers in places, still do this but now, based upon genetics rather than appearance and upon the disdain that geneticists have for trinomials, their nomenclature has changed. From old to new (if you choose to apply them, which I do not, LOL:

Old Nomenclature	Common Name	New Nomenclature
Lampropeltis getula californiae	California Kingsnake	Lampropeltis californiae
Lampropeltis getula brooksi	South Florida King	Lampropeltis getula
Lampropeltis getula floridana	Peninsula King	Lampropeltis getula
Lampropeltis getula holbrooki	Speckled King	Lampropeltis holbrooki *
Lampropeltis getula getula	Eastern King	Lampropeltis getula
Lampropeltis getula nigra	Eastern Black King	Lampropeltis nigra
Lampropeltis getula nigrita	Mexican Black King	Lampropeltis californiae
Lampropeltis getula splendida	Desert King	Lampropeltis splendida

*(but only west of the Mississippi River. Identically patterned individuals from east of the Mississippi are now L. nigra)

Formerly Brook's King, L. g. brooksi. Now Eastern King, L. getula:



More photos under the jump...