Atlantic Central American Milksnake, Milksnake

Items to climb on such as wood pieces, hol-ee roller toy (aka a rubber toy with holes big enough for him to fit through), mirrors, and coconut halves to hide in).

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Reptilia
• Order: Squamata
• Family: Colubridae
• Genus: Lampropeltis
• Species: Lampropeltis polyzona

Rocky semi-desert regions, arid tropical scrub forest, mesquite grassland, and other habitat around the Mexican Plateau.

Western and Southern Mexico

Least Concern

In the wild: 10 to 15 years
In human care: Up to 22 years

In the wild: Rodents and other small mammals, snakes, lizards, birds, and eggs.
At the Zoo: Fuzzies (mice)

Leche is a member of our Ambassador Animals that live behind the scenes! If you would like to meet Indigo in person, check out our daily, 11:ooam Amphitheater Presentations at the Awareness Amphitheater, located just beyond the covered bridge. Amphitheater Presentations are dependent on the weather. Please check our activity board, behind the Admissions booth, before coming to see us!

Once classified as a subspecies of Lampropeltis triangulum, the Atlantic Central American Milk Snake has now earned species-level recognition through the study of its evolutionary development. The name “polyzona” comes from the Greek words polys, meaning “many," and zone, meaning “a belt or girdle"—a fitting reference to the numerous vibrant color bands that adorn this striking snake.

With their bold black, white, and red bands, these slender snakes are easily recognized by their vibrant coloration. Their head is barely distinguishable from their neck, and they rarely grow longer than 4 feet, making them a relatively small species.

A Vibrant Hunter

Atlantic Central American Milk Snakes are active hunters that rely on their keen senses of sight and smell to locate prey. Their specialized sense of smell comes from a unique organ known as the Jacobson’s organ, located behind two small holes in the roof of their mouth.

Ever wondered why snakes flick their forked tongues in and out? They're not trying to lick you; they’re “smelling” the air! By collecting chemical particles with their forked tongue, the snake brings them into the Jacobson’s organ, where it processes the information. This allows the snake to determine which direction the strongest chemical signals are coming from, helping them locate their prey.

How They Hunt

As a non-venomous species, the Atlantic Central American Milk Snake uses constriction to subdue its prey.

Here’s how it works: Once the snake strikes and successfully grabs hold of its prey, it wraps its body around it multiple times and begins to squeeze. With every movement or breath of the prey, the snake tightens its grip until the prey is no longer able to breathe. Once the prey has passed, the snake takes its time to swallow it whole.

Snakes don’t chew their food—instead, their lower jawbones are connected by stretchy ligaments, allowing them to move independently. This adaptation helps them “walk” their meal into their throat. Thanks to their unique jaw structure, snakes can open their mouths wider than their bodies. And while feeding, they can still breathe through a special tube called the glottis, which stays open near the front of the mouth.

A Carnivorous Diet

As carnivores, milk snakes only consume other animals.

In the wild, they’ll eat a variety of prey, such as:

• Rodents
• Small Mammals
• Snakes
• Lizards
• Birds
• Eggs

At the zoo, Leche, our Atlantic Central American Milk Snake, is fed small frozen mice called “fuzzies," to mimic the type of diet they would have in the wild.

Mimicry for Survival

The striking color patterns of milk snakes may remind some of the venomous coral snake. But despite their similar appearance, milk snakes are harmless, while coral snakes possess highly toxic venom that can cause serious injury or death to humans.

This similarity is an example of Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species evolves to mimic the dangerous traits of another species in order to deceive predators into avoiding them. The famous rhyme “If red touches yellow, you’re a dead fellow; if red touches black, you’re okay, Jack!” can help you remember the difference between a milk snake and a coral snake. You can also think of a traffic light. If you see yellow turning into red, you need to stop. If you don’t see yellow turning into red, then you are good to go! But the best defense, by far, is to leave wild animals where they are and enjoy them from a distance.

Reproduction

Atlantic Central American Milk Snakes are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs, and their young hatch after a period of incubation.

A Commitment, NOT a Shortcut

If you're considering adding a milk snake to your family, it’s important to do your research to ensure you can meet their needs. These snakes require a significant time, effort, and financial investment—there are no shortcuts when it comes to responsible reptile care!

If you’re interested in learning more about why domestic animals are typically the best pets for most people, check out the Not-a-Pet campaign. And remember, if you have the knowledge and means to care for a milk snake, adopt, don’t shop! There are many reptiles in need of loving homes, just waiting for the right person to care for them.