Wildlife North America . com North American Animals - mamals, birds, reptiles, insects |
Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides)
Scarlet Kingsnake Photograph by LA Dawson. Some rights reserved. (view image details)
SCARLET KINGSNAKE FACTS
DescriptionThe Scarlet Kingsnake has 12 - 22 red rings, alternating with yellow and black. It is a mimic of the Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius fulvius). The Scarlet Kingsnake always has a red snout with the yellow rings being separated from the red rings by black. The Coral Snake has a black snout and the yellow and red rings are next to each other. Snakes from the northern part of the range have narrower yellow rings than snakes from the south of the range. The head is red with a black line across the top of the head. The banded pattern continues across the underside. Size 35cm - 50cm Environment prefers coniferous woodland. It is secretive and most commonly found beneath logs and bark. Food lizards, small snakes, rodents, invertebrates. Breeding Females lay 2 - 6 eggs in May or June. The eggs hatch after about 8 weeks. Range found from south Virginia to Florida and west to the Mississippi River. Most common along the coastal plain Notes Scarlet Kingsnakes are usually nervous, but adopt well in captivity. They will escape through small holes, so care needs to be taken to make sure their enclosure is escape proof. Scarlet Kingsnakes are fairly easy to breed in captivity. Classification
Relatives in same Genus Gray-banded Kingsnake (L. alterna) Prairie Kingsnake (L. calligaster calligaster) Mole Kingsnake (L. calligaster rhombomaculata) California Kingsnake (L. getula californiae) Florida Kingsnake (L. getula floridana) Eastern Kingsnake (L. getula getula) Speckled Kingsnake (L. getula holbrooki) Desert Kingsnake (L. getula splendida) Mexican Kingsnake (L. mexicana mexicana) Mexican Milk Snake (L. triangulum annulata) Pueblan Milk Snake (L. triangulum campbelli) Honduran Milk Snake (L. triangulum hondurensis) Nelson's Milk Snake (L. triangulum nelsoni) Sinaloan Milk Snake (L. triangulum sinaloae) Red Milk Snake (L. triangulum syspila) Milk Snake (L. triangulum triangulum) San Diego Mountain Kingsnake (L. zonata pulchra) Home | Mammals | Reptiles | Birds | Insects | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Contact Us |