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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
scarlet king snake, scarlet milk snake, scarlet
snake |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Reptilia |
| ORDER: |
Squamata |
| FAMILY: |
Colubridae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Lampropeltis (shining, beautiful scales)
triangulum elapsoides |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Red,
black, and yellow rings around entire body; red
and yellow rings are both surrounded by black rings
(the red and yellow rings never touch); red nose;
ventral pattern same as dorsal |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
|
| SIZE: |
35.5-50.8 cm (14-20 inches) in length; maximum recorded
length is 68.5 cm (27 inches) |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| WEIGHT: |
Average
1270 g (2.77 lb.) |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| DIET: |
Small
mammals, eggs, and other reptiles (usually anoles
and chameleons) including snakes |
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| INCUBATION: |
45-65 days |
| CLUTCH
SIZE |
2-9
eggs |
| BREEDING
PERIOD |
text |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
2 years |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
10-15
years |
| MALE |
text |
| FEMALE |
text |
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| RANGE: |
Throughout
Florida and from eastern Louisiana to southern New
Jersey |
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| HABITAT: |
Pinelands,
hardwood hammocks, prairies, cultivated fields,
and suburban areas |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
text |
| LOCAL |
text |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
text |
| CITES |
Not
listed |
| USFWS |
Not
listed |
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| 1. |
Like
many reptiles, the incubation temperature of the
snake's eggs may determine the offspring's sex;
warmer temperatures usually favor males while cool
temperatures favor females. |
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| 2. |
The scarlet king snake likely derives a degree of
protection from potentional predators via its mimetic
coloration - appearing similar to venomous coral
snakes of the genus Micrurus. Though they
are non-venomous themselves, the scarlet king snake's
confusion with the aforementioned coral snakes is
beneficial from a predator aversion standpoint.
However, this same confusion is often detrimental
to the scarlet king snake with regard to human encounters.
A simple rhyme may help people distinguish the venomous
coral snakes from two harmless species:
'If red touches yellow, it can kill a fellow' (coral
snake - Micrurus spp.)
'If red touches black, it is a friend of Jack' (scarlet
kingsnake, L. t. elapsoides
or scarlet snake, Cemophora coccinea) |
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| 3. |
Kingsnakes use quick, jerky movements so that their
bands flash, startling predators. Their bright colors
signal danger and often confuse predators, making
these snakes hard to follow. |
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| 4. |
Kingsnakes
are known for eating other snakes. |
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| 5. |
Kingsnakes
have one of the widest distributions of any American
snake. |
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| 6. |
Milksnakes,
also known as kingsnakes, get their name from an
old belief that they drink milk from the udders
of cows. This myth probably arose because milksnakes
were commonly spotted in barns and stables, where
there is a concentration of rodents. |
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Many other important predators (i.e. birds-of-prey)
feed on young snakes. This means that snakes fulfill
roles as both predators and prey in regional food
chains. Kingsnakes are also valuable in their role
of curbing rodent populations, especially those
near human settlement. The scarlet kingsnake is
one of two U.S. subspecies of milksnake still commonly
collected from the wild for pet trade. Excessive
collection of kingsnakes could deplete their natural
populations. Kingsnakes and milksnakes are also
killed frequently by those who confuse their coloring
with that of the venomous coral snake. |
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| |
|
|
|
Areste,
Manuel and Cebrián, Rafael. Snakes of
the World. New York: Sterling Publishing Co.,
Inc., 2003.
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Coborn, John. The Atlas of Snakes of the World.
New Jersey: T.F.H. Publications, inc. 1991. |
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Markel, R. and R. D. Bartlette. Kingsnakes
and Milksnakes. TFH Publications, Inc. 1990.
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| Mehrtens,
John M. Living Snakes of the World. New York:
Sterling Publishing Co., 1987. |
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| www.kingsnake.com |
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| http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/herpetology/fl-guide/Lampropeltistelapsoides.htm |
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