Texas Scarletsnake

Cemophora lineri

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This is a nonvenomous, medium-sized snake. It is the largest scarletsnake of the species and can grow to a length of 26 inches. The background color can be either gray or…

How to identify

This is a nonvenomous, medium-sized snake. It is the largest scarletsnake of the species and can grow to a length of 26 inches. The background color can be either gray or white with 13-18 red blotches bordered by black. The major difference between this species and others in coloration is that the black borders do not join in the sides. The underside is typically gray or white. This snake has seven supralabial scales and enlarged posterior maxillary teeth.

Range

This scarletsnake can only be found in southern Texas. Its range does not merge with other types of scarletsnakes.

Habitat

These snakes are secretive and can often be found in areas of hardwood, or pine woodland, and open areas with sandy soils. They also thrive in the dry prairie, sandhills, bottomland forests, swamp areas, plowed and abandoned fields, and roadsides. The Texas scarletsnake may be found individually under rocks or logs. The females lay their eggs in moist humus or various other underground sites. The Texas scarletsnake prefers feeding on eggs but can eat small rodents and lizards.

Similar species

C. lineri was once a subspecies of the Scarletsnake (Cemophora coccinea). The scarletsnake is slightly smaller, growing to a maximum length of 26 inches. It has a light gray dorsal pattern and black-bordered red blotches that run down the back. These blotches sometimes extend down its sides and appear like a band of circles which makes it similar somewhat to the coral snakes and kingsnakes. The belly color is a uniform light gray. The Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis elapsoides) is a nonvenomous snake with a three-colored pattern of black, red, white, and many shades of yellow. The main difference being that kingsnakes don’t have blotched but bands or rings. The Eastern Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum) is much larger with total lengths ranging between 47-52 inches. And much unlike the C. lineri, it has a wide range that spreads almost through the United States. Their color patterns are alternating bands of red-black-yellow or white-black-red. But sometimes you may see red blotches instead of bands.