scarlet kingsnake

Scarlet Kingsnake

Lampropeltis elapsoides

Range

The scarlet kingsnake can be found in the Eastern and southeastern areas of the United States. Mainly in Florida, eastern Louisiana to Southern New Jersey, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Habitats

The scarlet kingsnake dwells in areas with an ecosystem of pine savannas, pine flat woods, hydric hammocks, prairies, cultivated fields, mesic pine-oak forests and suburban habitats. They are terrestrial burrowers who live under rocks, inside logs, and in the bark of standing dead trees. They are often found hiding in shrubs or even a pool in suburban neighborhoods. The scarlet kingsnake is nocturnal and active mostly at night. They are extremely fast climbers and feed on amphibians especially skinks, rodents and other smaller snakes. The females are oviparous and lay between 2 - 9 eggs and the gender of the hatchlings is determined by the temperature of the eggs.

Identification

The adults grow to between 14 and 20 inches. The longest recorded length is 27 inches. The nonvenomous snakes are distinctively covered with triple colored rings of black, red and yellow which encircles its entire body. Both the red and yellow rings are bordered by a black ring. In its young, the yellow rings may be white. The scales are generally smooth and its pupils are round. At midbody, it has dorsal rings numbering 19. They are the smallest snakes in their species.

Learn more with Schechter Natural History's Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians
Google StoreGoogle Store

Screenshots

Explore Species

Southern Earless Lizard
Mohawk Dunes Fringe-Toed Lizard
Southern Dusky Salamander
Blacksburg Salamander
Yellow-Spotted Woodland Salamander
Carolina Sandhills Salamander
Intermediate Musk Turtle
Reticulated Siren
Speckled Black Salamander
Santa Cruz Black Salamander
Shasta Black Salamander
Klamath Black Salamander
Spectacled Caiman
Ensatina
Western Rattlesnake
Western Toad
Gopher Snake
Rough Greensnake
Mesoamerican Slider
Ring-Necked Snake
North American Racer
Common Garter Snake
Southern California Slender Salamander
Chihuahuan Green Toad
Sonoran Shovel-Nosed Snake
Barred Tiger Salamander
Resplendent Desert Shovel-Nosed Snake
Long-Tailed Brush Lizard
Eastern Mud Turtle
River Cooter
Southern Alligator Lizard
Rough-Skinned Newt
Pond Slider
Northern Alligator Lizard
Little Striped Whiptail
Orange-Throated Whiptail
Western Threadsnake
Elegant Earless Lizard
Keeled Earless Lizard
Western Patch-Nosed Snake
Western Earless Lizard
Rainbow Snake
Chihuahuan Mud Turtle
Long-Tailed Salamander
Saltmarsh Snake
Arizona Mountain Kingsnake
Yarrow's Spiny Lizard
Ridge-Nosed Rattlesnake
Rock Rattlesnake
Sidewinder
Pine Snake
Black-Knobbed Map Turtle
Western Fence Lizard
False Map Turtle
Speckled Racer
Northern Curly-Tailed Lizard
Gila Monster
Ashy Gecko
Italian Wall Lizard
Woodhouse's Toad
Red Diamond Rattlesnake
American Toad
Coachwhip
Mojave Rattlesnake
Long-Toed Salamander
Twin-Spotted Rattlesnake
Spring Salamander
Western Skink
Desert Kingsnake
Prairie Skink
Sonoran Coralsnake
Common Watersnake
Arizona Alligator Lizard
Hellbender
Southern Cricket Frog
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake
Baja California Tree Frog
Black-Necked Garter Snake
Striped Whipsnake
Coal Skink
Mexican Garter Snake
Schott's Whipsnake
Texas Coralsnake
Glossy Swampsnake
Slender Glass Lizard
Diamondback Watersnake
Black Swampsnake
Bird-Voiced Tree Frog
Six-Lined Racerunner
Trans-Pecos Ratsnake
Eastern Worm Snake
Greater Earless Lizard
Burmese Python
Boa Constrictor
Scarletsnake
Brown Anole
Mudsnake
Smooth Earthsnake
Aquatic Garter Snake
Eastern Collared Lizard
EmailPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseHerp GuideBird Codes