There are many variations on this basic morphology found in the wild and captive bred, with some specimens even lacking orange or red banding entirely.

The species is closely associated with limestone and volcanic substrates, with steep slopes and standard desert scrub.

Its natural range is sparsely populated with humans, and many regions are virtually impassable due to the mountainous terrain.

It will occasionally feed on small rodents, frogs, and the eggs of ground nesting birds, lizards, and other snakes.

Some believe that the number of reports in Texas is due to the accessibility of the region for amateur American herpetologists.

Due to their relatively small size, calm dispositions, and astounding array of pattern variations they are frequently captive bred.