Northern Scarlet Snake

Cemophora coccinea copei

Venom Status:

Non Venomous

 

Characteristics:

This beautiful, 20 to 30 inch long snake has a pointed red nose and an unpatterned white belly. The white to off–white or yellow dorsum is patterned with elongate red saddles that are narrowly bordered with black. 6 upper labial (lip) scales. Scales are smooth and the anal plate is entire. The pupil is round. Most easily differentiated from the southernmost Florida scarlet snake by range. Scarlet snakes feed primarily on eggs of other reptiles. This snake is a persistent burrower.

 

Unique Features:

The red nose will identify this snake as a harmless species, as will the fact that the dorsal markings are saddles, not rings, and narrow black markings separate the red from the white.

 

Habitat and Diet:

Sandy or other loose soils. This snake may often be seen on roads on cloudy, humid, nights. Scarlet snakes feed primarily on eggs of other reptiles.

 

Geographic Range:

FL, GA, SC, AL, NC, TN, KY, VA, WV, AR, IL, IN, LA, MD, MS, TX, MO, NJ, OK