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Definition of california king snake
california king snake
Plural:California king snakes
california king snake Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
North American A medium-sized, non-venomous colubrid snake native to the western United States and northern Mexico, distinguished by its banded or striped patterns and known for a diet that includes consuming other snakes.
Example
"While hiking through the Mojave Desert, the students observed a California king snake sunning itself on a flat rock."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named for its native range primarily in California and the western United States, combined with 'king' which denotes its characteristic behavior of preying on and eating other snakes, including venomous rattlesnakes.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of California king snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/california king snake