Scarlet Kingsnake
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| Scarlet King Snake | ||||||||||||||||||
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 Scarlet King snake, Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides
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| Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides (Holbrook, 1838) |
The Scarlet Kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides) is a type of king snake that is found in the Eastern portion of the United States, particularly Florida. It is a subspecies of the milk snake Lampropeltis triangulum.[1] They are found in pine flatwoods,[1] hardwood hammocks, prairies, cultivated fields, and suburban areas. It is significantly smaller than some of the other king snakes, usually well under 20 inches long. The maximum recorded length was 68.5cm (27 inches). Neonates (newborns) can be as small as 3 and a half inches.
The snake has a tri-color pattern of black, red, and yellow bands that mimic the venomous coral snake. A method to help differentiate between venomous and non venomous tri-color snakes in North America is found in the popular phrases "red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black venom lack" or "If red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow; if red touches black, you're alright, Jack" and "Red and black is a friend of Jack".
While the phrases can be helpful in North America to partially identify a certain amount of risk with the venomous coral snakes they should not be used as a means of identification. If "red touches black" it does not necessarily mean you are dealing with a non venomous snake and it certainly does not necessarily mean you are dealing with a scarlet kingsnake. Be advised that the "phrases" are not accurate outside of North America. Other localities have venomous snakes where the red and black touch - and even within North America there are other snake species besides the Scarlet Kingsnake which are not venomous and have similar markings.
Juvenile specimens of this snake usually have the same colours as adults, but often have rings that look more "off white" than yellow. As they become mature, their rings turn more yellow.
Scarlet kingsnakes spend a lot of their time hiding under cover. Loose bark on rotting pine trees is a favorite place for them to hide. It is in these places that they find a steady supply of one of their favorite foods, skinks.
They eat small animals, eggs and other reptiles including lizards, chameleons and other snakes. Many people have these as pets as they are easy to look after.[citation needed]
It is thought to intergrade with the Eastern Milksnake to make an intermediate form once named the coastal plains milk snake (Latin: Lampropeltis triangulum temporalis), but this is no longer recognized as a legitimate subspecies.[2][1]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Armstrong, Michael P.; Frymire, David & Zimmerer, Edmund J. (December 2001), “Analysis of sympatric populations of Lampropeltis triangulum syspila and Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides, in western Kentucky and adjacent Tennessee with relation to the taxonomic status of the scarlet kingsnake”, Journal of Herpetology 35 (4): 688-93, ISSN 0022-1511, <http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com/hww/jumpstart.jhtml?recid=0bc05f7a67b1790e050a2140da939dde29bfd13582719af621eb734dba33044f9d443e023694dc49&fmt=P>
- ^ Williams, Kenneth L. (1988), Systematics and natural history of the American milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum., Milwaukee, WI (USA): Milwaukee Public Museum, <http://md1.csa.com/partners/viewrecord.php?collection=ENV&recid=1964640>
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