Scarletsnake
Cemophora coccinea
Size
14–21 in
Status
Endangered
Venomous
No
Region
Far S Indiana
A small, brilliantly banded burrowing snake at the very edge of its range in Indiana. Harmless, secretive, and state endangered.
Identification
A slender snake with bright red saddles bordered in black on a white to yellowish background, and a pointed red snout. The belly is plain whitish. Adults are about 14–20 inches. Its red, black, and light banding causes confusion with milk snakes and coral snakes.
Habitat & Diet
A burrower of sandy or loose soils in open woodlands, active at night and rarely seen on the surface. It eats small reptiles, invertebrates, and especially reptile eggs, which it slits open.
Conservation in Indiana
State Endangered in Indiana, known from only a few southern localities. Protecting sandy woodland habitat is critical for its persistence.
Similar Species & Taxonomy
The Scarletsnake mimics the venomous coralsnake and closely resembles the Red Milksnake; it is told by its red snout, banding in which red never touches yellow, and a plain whitish belly. A scarletsnake (family Colubridae) of the genus Cemophora. A secretive, largely burrowing, egg-eating snake at the northern edge of its range in Indiana; local animals are the Northern Scarletsnake (C. coccinea copei).
United States Range Map Distribution
Distribution in Indiana
