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Lampropeltis triangulum |
Physical DescriptionThe Milk snake has a gray or light brown background color. There is a Y and V shaping marking on the top of its head. They grow to about 92 cm. Though some Milk snakes grow larger than others, and that is rare. When pregnant female Milk snakes change to warmer colors to prevent their eggs from getting eaten.Diet and Feeding HabitsMilk snakes eat fuzzy mice and hopper mice and adult rats. It also eats reptile eggs. Also it eats a majority of bird eggs. Most commonly, it eats lizards and small insects. Though the Milk snake has been known to eat amphibians in the swamp areas.ReproductionMilk snakes have a mating season during the months of March and June. The eggs take about 47 to 84 days to hatch. Within the average 60 days at a temperature of 82 fahrenheit. Once the female begins to ovulate, she uses the glands on her skin to leave a pheromone, which is a chemical substance released into the environment. In other words she leaves a trail behind her. The male follows these trails until they find the responsible female. They mate for days. Finally the female lays 2-12 eggs. The eggs hatch after 47-84 days.HabitatMilk snakes occur in a variety of habitats. Such habitat’s for the Milk snake include rocky areas, waterways. Also near grasslands. The Milk snake is most commonly found in farms. It also lives in other places such as the woods, wetlands, barns and swamps. During the winter, Milk snakes go into a three month long period of brumation which is similar to hibernation. The brumation takes place in the months of October till April.Role in the EcosystemMilk snake mainly live in farms. If they become endangered then what will eat the rats and mice that live in the farms. Without the milk snakes the rat population will overpopulate and that will bring disease to the farm. So if the rat population over flows. That can cause economic problems. Its obvious that the Milk snake is a carnivore. A carnivore is an animal that eats meat only. The Milk snake is the predator for the majority of the time. It only becomes the prey if a human decides to hunt it because the human might fear it. The only way a Milk snake will attack is when it feels threatened. The Milk snake likes to lay its eggs in a covered area. Which makes it harder for predators to find the eggs.Bibliographyhttp://www.nhest.org/penquis/penquisotheran.html#snakeshttp://www.REPTILIA.com http://www.nhest.org/penquis/penquisotheran.html http://chicagowildernessmag.org/issues/fall2002/milksnake.html http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/herpdist/species/la_triangu.html http://dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/CW69-14-343-2003E.pdf http://people.wcsu.edu/pinout/herpetology/ltriangulum/reproduction.htm http://www.bgsu.edu/departments/biology/facilities/herp/caresheetpages/emilk.html |
Milk Snake