The Scarlet Kingsnake is a species of Kingsnake that can be found in the Eastern regions of the United States. It is also known as the Scarlet Milk Snake.
This small snake only grows to around 40-50cm in length and is the smallest species in its genus. They are primarily fossorial, meaning they will spend much of their time under ground in burrows.
Scarlet Kingsnake Taxonomy
In the Animal Kingdom, Taxonomy is used as the science and practice of classifying different species and sub-species based on their biological and genetic makeup.
Family
The Scarlet Kingsnake belongs to the Colubridae or Colubrid family of snakes. This is the largest family of Snakes in the world consisting of many popular species such as Corn Snakes and Milk Snakes.
With around 250 different genera of Colubrids, these snakes can be found on every continent except Antarctica which also makes them the most widely distributed family of snake in the world.
The vast majority of Colubrid snakes are non-venomous, or at least contain a venom that isn’t considered to be medically significant to humans.
However, there are a number of species of Colubrid snakes that contain venom capable of killing humans. This includes species from the Boiga and Rhabdophis genera as well as other snakes such as the Boomslang.
Genus
The Scarlet Kingsnake belongs to the Lampropeltis genus. This genus contains the New World Kingsnakes and Milk Snakes.
Some other species in the Lampropeltis genus include the Mexican Milk Snake, the Grey Banded Kingsnake, the Prairie Kingsnake, the Nuevo Leone Kingsnake and the Speckled Kingsnake.
The Kingsnake gets its name from the fact that they often eat other snakes, including Rattlesnakes. Similarly, the King Cobra gets its name from its tendency to also eat other snakes.
The scientific name ‘Lampropeltis’ comes from the Greek words ‘lampro’ and ‘pelte’ which loosely translates to ‘shiny shield’. This is a reference to these snake’s smooth, enamel-like dorsal scales.
Species
The scientific name for the Scarlet Kingsnake is Lampropeltis elapsoides. Their other common name is the Scarlet Milk Snake.
Scarlet Kingsnake Description
The Scarlet Kingsnake is the smallest species in the Lampropeltis genus, growing to a length of 40-50cm. Larger specimens can be found but aren’t as common.
They have a small head that is barely distinct from the neck as well as a slender body. The coloration of juveniles is the same as adults, but the yellow bands start off white.
This snake has a red, black and yellow tricolour pattern. The shade of the yellow pattern can vary greatly and usually isn’t a uniform shade. The patterning is very similar in appearance to an Eastern Coral Snake.
This similarity to a much more dangerous species is known as Batesian mimicry and is intended to scare off a potential threat. While this has its benefits, it also has its drawbacks as people occasionally kill them out of fear.
There is a popular phase to distinguish between the two. ‘Red on Yellow kill a fellow, Red on Black friend of Jack’. However, while this is usually the case, you should never use it as a means to identify a snake.
Natural Habitat and Distribution
The Scarlet Kingsnake can be found throughout the Eastern and the South-Eastern United States where it can be found in a wide range of habitats.
To the West, they can be found in states such as Tennessee, Mississippi and parts of Eastern Louisiana. To the North, they can be found in parts of Kentucky and Virginia.
They can be found in every state in the South-Eastern United States including Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida.
These snakes can be found in a wide range of habitats and love to live underneath the loose bark of decaying trees. They are considered fossorial and will spend a large amount of time under ground in burrows.
However, they are also great climbers and will sometimes leave the ground in search of food. They are a nocturnal secretive species that are not commonly seen by people.
Scarlet Kingsnake Diet
The Scarlet Kingsnake prefers to eat small lizards and snakes. They are particularly fond of eating skinks. However, they will eat a variety of other prey.
Larger snakes are known to eat rodents and other small mammals while juveniles will often feed on smaller prey such as frogs and invertebrates.
