Scarlet Kingsnake

Authored By: Wilson

Lampropeltis elapsoides
Scarlet Kingsnake

SKSN

Status

This Scarlet Kingsnake is common on the Coastal Plain and uncommon to rare in the Piedmont and mountains.

Description

The Scarlet Kingsnake is a small (36–68 cm) snake with red, black, and yellow (or cream) colored rings which extend across the belly. The red rings are wide (12–22 scales) and separated from the yellow rings by black ones. The snout is red.

Distribution

This form occurs from North Carolina to the tip of Florida and west to the Mississippi River. This is chiefly a snake of the Coastal Plain, but also occurs in more inland sites.

Habitat

The Scarlet Kingsnake occurs primarily in pine woods, such as loblolly pine with hardwood undergrowth and longleaf pine with wiregrass, as well as pine-scrub oak, live oak maritime and, rarely, deciduous hardwoods (Carr, 1940; Brode and Allison, 1958; Williams, 1978). This secretive snake is usually found concealed underneath the pine bark of snags, fallen logs, saw dust piles, tin, and rotting logs and stumps (Palmer, 1961; Wilson, field notes; Brode and Allison, 1958).

Breeding Habits

Mating occurs in early summer, with egg deposition taking place at the end of June or July (Palmer, 1961; Williams, 1978). Three to six eggs are laid, which hatch in late August or September (Palmer, 1961; Groves and Sachs, 1973).

Food Habits

The Scarlet Kingsnake feeds primarily on small lizards and small snakes, and occasionally on young mice.

Management Suggestions

This species appears to utilize pine snags to a great extent for hibernation and spring activity. It is often found under the bark of rotting pine logs, snags and stumps, particularly on slopes leading to more mesic situations. Management practices should include leaving a certain number of snags in pine habitat. There is also some pressure from snake hunters who specifically seek out this colorful little snake. Restrictions, and perhaps bag limits should be set to prevent overcollecting.

Remarks

The Scarlet Kingsnake although very different in size and general ecology from the Milk Snake, is considered by most authors as a subspecies of L. triangulum (Williams, 1994). Both L. triangulum triangulum and L. elapsoides are broadly sympatric in parts of Tennessee and Kentucky. Several authors have recently suggested that Lampropeltis triangulum and its twenty-five recognized subspecies may consititute a species complex (Collins, 1990; Conant and Collins 1991). I have chosen to recognize L. elapsoides as a distinct species and treat Lampropeltis triangulum in a separate species account.