Kenneth L. Krysko photo.

Scientific name: Cemophora coccinea copei

Description: Average adult size is 14-20 inches (36-51 cm), record is 32.5 inches (82.8 cm). Adult color is a whitish-gray dorsal ground color with red blotches bordered by black. The head is red with a distinct light colored band just behind the eyes. The belly pattern is uniformly whitish-gray. The scales are smooth, and there are 19 dorsal scale rows at midbody. There are 6 scales on the upper lip, and the pupil is round. Juvenile color is like that of adults.

Scarlet snake: Left to right: Top of the head (notice the large plate-like scales on the top of the head); underside of the head (chin and throat).

Scarlet snake: Left to right: Side of the head; front (face view) of the head.

Range: In Florida, it is found throughout northern Florida and the Florida panhandle. Outside of Florida, it is found throughout the southeastern United States from eastern Texas to New Jersey.

Habitat: Commonly found in pine flatwoods, dry prairies, hardwood hammocks, and sandhills.

Comments: . It lives mostly underground, in or under logs, or burrowed under tree bark. It is active at night and sometimes is seen after dark crossing roads.

It feeds on small snakes, lizards, rodents, and reptile eggs.

Breeding occurs from March through June, and it typically lays 3-8 eggs between May and August.

Comparison with other species: The scarlet snake is often confused with the scarlet kingsnake and the coral snake, but it is easy to distinguish between these three species look-alike species. The scarlet kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides) possesses colored rings that go entirely around its belly. The eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius fulvius) has a rounded black snout and its red rings and yellow rings touch.

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