CORAL SNAKE "MIMICS"

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Several Louisiana snakes bear series of black, red and yellow crossbands or rings similar to those found on venomous coral snakes. As a rule of thumb the non-venomous "mimics" have the red separated from the yellow by black crossbands, while the red crossbands are bordered by yellow rings in the venomous coral snake. The coral snake mimics tend to be secretive species that inhabit forests, and are rarely encountered. They may feed upon lizards and their eggs, other snakes and small mammals. The milk and scarlet king snakes often bite when handled but they are harmless.

Milk Snake, Lampropeltis triangulum

Click to enlarge.	Click to enlarge. Photo Credit: Brad Moon

• Other common names: Red kingsnake, false coral snake.
• Identification: 14-30 inches. Series of black, red and white or yellow rings, with each red and white ring bordered on either side by black; rings often interrupted on belly by white or black line; snout may be black or red; scales smooth and in 21 rows.
• Habits: Milk snakes tend to remain concealed within and under rotting logs, standing dead trees, and in cavities of live trees, primarily in bottomland hardwood forests and swamp margins, but extending into mixed pine woods in northern Louisiana. They lay from 3-9 eggs.
• Distribution: Wooded and forested portions of Louisiana, but absent from the Florida Parishes beyond the Mississippi River floodplain. There are no records from the upland forests of north-central Louisiana, and from between mid-De Soto and mid-Evangeline parishes.

Scarlet Kingsnake, Lampropeltis elapsoides

Click to enlarge. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

• Other common names: Red kingsnake, false coral snake.
• Identification: 12-24 inches. Series of black, red and white or yellow rings, with each red and yellow ring bordered on either side by black; rings continue across belly; snout always red; scales smooth and in 17-19 rows.
• Habits: Scarlet kingsnakes are usually found in and under pine logs, and within standing dead pines and stumps. They also occur in dry hardwood forests in the Felicianas. They lay from 4-7 eggs.
• Distribution: The Florida Parishes above the Mississippi River floodplain.

Scarlet Snake, Cemophora coccinea

Click to enlarge. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

• Identification: 14-22 inches. Series of black, red and whitish crossbands on the back and sides, with each red and white band bordered on either side by black; white below; snout red and pointed; scales smooth and in 19 rows.
• Habits: Scarlet snakes occur in pine or mixed woods, and apparently remain concealed in burrows by day, venturing out at night. They are not known to bite. They feed upon the eggs of lizards and other snakes, and lay from 3-11 eggs.
• Distribution: The eastern Florida Parishes and upland areas of central and northern Louisiana.

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