When threatened, the speckled kingsnake will shake its tail like a rattlesnake to deter predators. The gray-banded kingsnake feeds primarily on lizards. He is also faster than a Black Pepper snake, known as a speckled kingsnake. The black kingsnake is a large to medium constrictor. Kingsnake species inhabit the Americas from southeastern Canada to southern Ecuador. It is, however, a common misconception that this subspecies of kingsnake is black in color. It was previously considered a subspecies of the common kingsnake. Even through geographical boundaries, Kingsnake venom resistance has varied between species. Also present is the California mountain kingsnake, a California species of special concern. The desert kingsnake may occur in any rural habitat within its range. Humphreys (1881) described how a specimen was killed and eaten by a captive kingsnake.