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reptile · snake
Scarlet Kingsnake
Lampropeltis elapsoides — Colubridae
14–20 inches
IUCN
Least Concern
Federal (US)
None
Virginia
None
VWAP Tier
Not Listed
Habitat
Found in Virginia
How to identify
- Red, black, and yellow (or white) bands encircling the body
- Red snout
- Red bands bordered by black, NOT touching yellow — 'red touches black, friend of Jack'
- Small size, 14–20 inches
- Smooth, shiny scales
About this species
A small, strikingly banded snake of the coastal plain and piedmont, the scarlet kingsnake mimics the venomous coral snake in coloration. In Virginia, there are no coral snakes, so this mimic has no local model — but the pattern still deters many predators. They are secretive and rarely seen despite being present throughout their range.
Often confused with
Corn Snake
Corn snakes have reddish blotches on an orange background, not complete rings; scarlet kingsnakes have complete red-black-yellow bands
Northern Scarletsnake
Scarletsnakes have a plain white or cream belly without banding; scarlet kingsnakes have bands that extend around the entire body including the belly
Did you know
"The rhyme 'red touches yellow, kill a fellow; red touches black, friend of Jack' helps distinguish coral snakes (red touches yellow) from scarlet kingsnakes (red touches black) — though in Virginia there are no coral snakes to worry about."
Sightings & citizen science
Help document Virginia wildlife by logging your sightings on iNaturalist. Every observation builds the conservation data that researchers and rehabbers depend on.
View Scarlet Kingsnake observations on iNaturalist ↗Found one injured?
If you've found an injured or displaced Scarlet Kingsnake in Virginia, our triage guide walks you through what to do.