King Snakes are highly specialized predators that regularly kill and consume rattlesnakes. Their name, King Snake, comes from their habit of preying on other snakes, including venomous species. Snakes belonging to the genus Lampropeltis are known for successful encounters with rattlesnakes across North America. This predator-prey relationship is driven by unique hunting tactics and a remarkable biological adaptation.
King Snakes: Specialized Snake Eaters
King Snakes are classified as ophiophagous, meaning their diet primarily includes other snakes. While they are opportunistic feeders that consume rodents, lizards, birds, and eggs, snakes—both venomous and non-venomous—constitute a significant portion of their diet. The California King Snake (Lampropeltis getula californiae), for example, will readily prey on various species of rattlesnakes within its range. This specialized diet allows King Snakes to occupy an ecological niche that few other predators can exploit.
The “King” in their name is a direct reference to their dominance over other snakes. By preying on other snakes, including potent pit vipers, they help regulate local snake populations. This ability to eliminate a dangerous competitor and a food source for other predators highlights the King Snake’s unique role in the food web.
The Predation Strategy
The King Snake’s hunt begins with its active search for prey, often relying on scent to track down a rattlesnake. Once the rattlesnake is located, the King Snake employs a swift and precise attack, focusing on controlling the venomous snake’s head. This initial grab is immediately followed by the application of powerful constriction, a technique for which King Snakes are renowned. They quickly wrap their bodies around the prey, forming tight coils that immobilize the rattlesnake.
King Snakes are known to be pound-for-pound stronger constrictors than many other non-venomous snakes of similar size. The constriction is designed to suppress the rattlesnake’s ability to strike and to prevent it from escaping the powerful squeeze. The mechanical pressure applied by the King Snake is intense, leading to a rapid circulatory collapse in the rattlesnake. Contrary to the old belief that constriction causes suffocation, the squeeze quickly overwhelms the prey’s cardiovascular system, cutting off blood flow to the brain and causing death much faster.
The King Snake will often maintain a firm grip on the rattlesnake’s head throughout the entire process to prevent a defensive bite. After the rattlesnake has been subdued and killed, the King Snake begins the process of swallowing its meal whole, typically starting with the head. This combination of a quick grab, precise control, and superior constricting strength allows the King Snake to consistently defeat a dangerous opponent.
Biological Protection Against Rattlesnake Venom
The success of the King Snake in preying on rattlesnakes is supported by a biological defense mechanism against their venom. King Snakes possess significant resistance to the hemotoxins and neurotoxins found in rattlesnake venom, rather than being completely immune. This resistance is an innate trait, developed over millions of years of evolutionary pressure. The adaptation involves specialized serum proteins found within the King Snake’s bloodstream.
These proteins function like a natural antivenom, binding to the toxic components of the venom before they cause widespread physiological damage. This action neutralizes the venom, preventing it from disrupting nerve signals or destroying blood cells and tissue. Scientific studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this resistance, showing that it can take 10 to 20 times the lethal dose of rattlesnake venom to kill a King Snake compared to a non-resistant snake of similar size.
The resistance is particularly strong against the hemotoxic venoms characteristic of North American pit vipers, such as rattlesnakes and copperheads. This specialized protection ensures that even if a defensive bite penetrates the King Snake during the struggle, the resulting dose of venom is unlikely to be fatal. This co-evolution between predator and prey has resulted in a unique arms race, where the rattlesnake’s potent defense has been countered by the King Snake’s biological shield.