Reptiles of North Carolina
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NC Records

Lampropeltis elapsoides - Scarlet Kingsnake


Photo: J. Buie
Photo: T. Stafford
Photo: E. Grimes
Taxonomy
Class: Reptilia Order: Serpentes Family: Colubridae Subfamily: Colubrinae
Taxonomic Comments: Lampropeltis consists of 27 species of moderately slender colubrid snakes, ranging widely across much of North America, from southern Canada to as far south as Ecuador.
Species Comments: Lampropeltis elapsoides, the Scarlet Kingsnake, is one of four Lampropeltis in North Carolina. This species ranges primarily in the southeastern United States, from southern Virginia south to Florida, and west to the Mississippi River. In North Carolina, Scarlet Kingsnakes range throughout the Coastal Plain and into the Piedmont. Due to past taxonomic confusion (see below) some older records of this species may need to be revisited, and all Coastal Plain records of "L. triangulum" likely refer to L. elapsoides.

Lampropeltis elapsoides was for some time considered a subspecies of the Eastern Milksnake, L. triangulum. Many previous researchers and field guides noted "intergrade" zones between the subspecies based on apparently intermediate phenotypes. However, Pyron and Burbrink (2009a) demonstrated that L. elapsoides is distinct from L. triangulum, and the two are not sister species. Additional work (e.g., Burbrink et al., 2022; Chambers et al., 2023) has supported this distinction, and showed that hybridization does not occur between these taxa. Older records assigned to either L. elapsoides or L. triangulum should be reviewed carefully, and further work on samples in the Upper Coastal Plain is warranted.

The generic epithet Lampropeltis is derived from the Greek words lampros, "radiant" or "shiny", and pelta, "shields", in likely reference to the glossy nature of their scales. The specific epithet elapdoides appears to be a combination of the Greek work Elaps (in reference to the elapid coral snakes) and -oides, meaning "resembling", likely in reference to scarlet kingsnakes resemblance of the venomous coral snake, Micrurus fulvius.

Taxonomic References: Williams (1994); Pyron and Burbrink (2009a).
Identification
Description: The Scarlet Kingsnake is a relatively small, moderately slender snake with a slightly pointed head approximately as wide as its the neck. Their dorsal coloration is conspicuous, consisting of 12 to 22 alternating bands of red, black, and white (or yellow) that encircle all or most of the venter. The head is red, with a black band encroaching the posterior parietals.
Morphological Features: Scarlet Kingsnakes typically have 19 smooth scale rows at midbody. Ventral counts range from 158-196 in NC specimens (Palmer and Braswell, 1995), with 33-51 subcaudals and an undivided anal plate. Head scale counts are typically as follows: 7 supralabials, 8 or 9 infralabials, 1 loreal, 2 nasals, 1 preocular, 2 postoculars, and 1+2 temporals. Palmer and Braswell (1995) noted variation in scalation across multiple specimens in NC.

Scarlet Kingsnakes have a maximum recorded total length of 68.6 cm (27 inches). Of specimens assignable directly to L. elapsoides, Palmer and Braswell (1995) reported a 56.4 cm male specimen from NC. Tail lengths account for approximately 11-17% of total length. Males have relatively longer tails with more subcaudals than females.

Scarlet Kingsnakes do not have enlarged posterior teeth or Duvernoy's glands, meaning they are incapable of producing venom. They may bite when handled, but will otherwise vibrate their tail or hide their head within their coils. Regardless, their teeth are too small to cause any harm to humans or pets.
Technical Reference: Palmer and Braswell (1995); Ernst and Ernst (2003).
Field Guide Descriptions: Palmer and Braswell (1995); Ernst and Ernst (2003); Beane et al. (2010).
Online Photos:    Google   iNaturalist   GBIF
Observation Methods: Scarlet Kingsnakes are highly secretive, but may be found under cover objects, including pine bark.
Distribution in North Carolina
County Map: Clicking on a county returns the records for the species in that county.
Key Habitat Requirements
Habitat: This species is associated with mixed pine-oak woodlands, including sandhills and flatwoods habitats in the Coastal Plain and upland pine-oak-heath woodlands in the Piedmont and Lower Mountains (Palmer and Braswell, 1995; Beane et al., 2010; Gibbons, 2017). They are often found under the loose bark of snags or logs, particularly pines.
Biotic Relationships: Scarlet Kingsnakes are specialized predators of elongate squamates, primarily skinks and small colubroid snakes. Greene et al. (2010) noted the following prey items of wild Scarlet Kingsnakes that range in North Carolina: skinks (Plestiodon inexpectatus, P. sp., and Scincella lateralis), juvenile Six-lined Racerunners (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus), and nonvenomous snakes (Diadophis punctatus, Haldea striatula, Thamnophis sp., and Tantilla coronata); Palmer and Braswell (1995)’s report of Carphophis amoenus as prey was excluded from these records as it was not taken in a wild setting. Skinks made up almost three-quarters of the prey items reported by Greene et al. (2010).

Predators of Scarlet Kingsnakes specifically are difficult to parse due to taxonomic confusion with Milksnakes (Lampropeltis triangulum). Coralsnakes (Micrurus fulvius) are known predators (Krysko and Arbdelfattah, 2002); other predators likely include various birds, other ophiophagous snakes, and possibly some carnivorous mammals (Ernst and Ernst, 2003).
Life History and Autecology
Breeding and Courtship: Scarlet Kingsnakes reach sexual maturity by the time they are 36 cm total body length. Mating occurs in the spring (April to May).
Reproductive Mode: Scarlet Kingsnakes are oviparous and typically lay eggs in summer (June to July) that hatch in later summer or early Fall (August to September). Clutches average approximately 4 white, elongate, slightly granular and adherent eggs that average 26 mm long (Palmer and Braswell, 1995).

Hatchlings are approximately 16 cm in total length.
Terrestrial Life History: Scarlet Kingsnakes are primarily nocturnal but may occasionally be found active during the day. During the day, they can be found under surface cover, in rock crevices, or in rotting logs and stumps. Though primarily terrestrial, they have been taken under bark well off the ground (Palmer and Braswell, 1995). Scarlet Kingsnakes have been recorded in North Carolina from January–November, but most activity occurs in the spring and most records are from April and May.

Home range estimates are not known from North Carolina, and published home range estimates for Milksnakes (L. triangulum) in Kansas do not apply to this species.
General Ecology
Adverse Environmental Impacts
Status in North Carolina
NHP State Rank: S3
Global Rank: G5
Status in North Carolina: W1,W5

Photo Gallery for Lampropeltis elapsoides - Scarlet Kingsnake

19 photos are shown.

Recorded by: Z. Lunn, M. Prinz
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: D. Bigford
Stanly Co.
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Recorded by: E. Grimes
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: E. Grimes
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: E. Grimes
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: J. Buie
Stokes Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: J. Buie
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: T. Stafford
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: T. Stafford
Moore Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: A. Early
Stanly Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: A. Early
Stanly Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: T. Stafford
Moore Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: G. George
Gaston Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: Jeff Beane and Steve Hall
Moore Co.
Comment: Found under bark of a downed Longleaf Pine
Recorded by: Jaye McClure
Stokes Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: S. Williams
Camden Co.
Comment:
Recorded by: Jeff Corbett
Bladen Co.
Comment: 		Recorded by: M.Windsor
Stokes Co.
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Recorded by: S. Hartley, C. Helms
Moore Co.
Comment: