Fauna
Reptile

Scarlet Kingsnake

Lampropeltis elapsoides

Also known as Scarlet Milk Snake

Scarlet kingsnakes are secretive woodland burrowers celebrated for their vibrant bands of red, black, and yellow or cream. This striking pattern represents a textbook example of Batesian mimicry, where a harmless snake borrows the cautionary colors of venomous coral snakes to discourage predators. Highly fossorial and nocturnal, these slender constrictors spend their daylight hours slipping beneath the loose bark of pine trees and rotting logs in search of lizards.

NonvenomousNocturnalPatterned
Scarlet Kingsnake reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyLittle brown skinks, Green anoles, Small snakes
Predators
  • Hawks
  • Carnivorous mammals
  • Larger snakes
ThreatsHabitat loss from suburban development, road mortality, and accidental killing due to mistaken identity
HabitatsPine flatwoods, hydric hammocks, pine savannas, mesic pine-oak forests, and suburban gardens
Life span10–15 years in the wild
Classification
  1. FamilyColubridae
  2. GenusLampropeltis
  3. SpeciesLampropeltis elapsoides
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Completely harmless and nonvenomous; safe to observe from a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Identification Rhyme: Remember that red touches black on this harmless species, unlike the venomous coral snake where red touches yellow.
  • Look Beneath Cover: Search gently under loose pine bark or rotting forest logs where adults shelter during the day.
  • Pool Rescues: Use a skimmer net to safely lift stranded individuals from backyard swimming pools in spring.
Related species
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