The Desert King Snake (Lampropeltis getulus splendida) is a nocturnal species, usually active only during the late afternoon and evening hours. It is secretive, spending much of its time hiding beneath logs and debris. When encountered in the wild it is a very nervous animal, vibrating its tail rapidly and putting on a valiant defensive display. Its range is central and south Texas westward, across southern New Mexico, to southeastern Arizona, southward to San Luis Potosi and Zacatecas, Mexico. In Mexico it ranges as far west as Sonora.