Randy Babb (left and right) and Kenneth L. Krysko (center)
photos.
Scientific name: Cemophora coccinea
The following key will separate the two subspecies of scarlet snake that are found in Florida. If you are not sure about the scale characteristics referred to in the key, you can probably identify the subspecies by geographic location.
| 1a | 7 scales on the upper lip; peninsular Florida | Florida
scarlet snake, Cemophora coccinea coccinea |
| 1b | 6 scales on the upper lip; north Florida and southeastern U.S., north to southern New Jersey and west to eastern Texas and Oklahoma. | Northern
scarlet snake, Cemophora coccinea copei |
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