The milk snakes (Lampropeltis
triangulum) have the largest distribution of any New
World snake species, ranging from Canada through South
America. The scarlet kingsnake is the subspecies that
occurs in the southeastern US. Scarlet kings occur in a
variety of terrestrial habitats including Florida scrub.
These beautiful little snakes (up to 20") eat
lizards and smaller snakes that they kill by
constriction. They spend most of their time out of sight
under logs or under the bark of dead trees. Note the red
snout and the color pattern of red-touching-black.
Poisonous coral snakes have a black snout and a color
pattern with red-touching-yellow. Remember this little
ditty:
"Red
to yellow, Kill a fellow; Red to black, Venom lack"
The milk snakes (Lampropeltis
triangulum) have the largest distribution of any New
World snake species, ranging from Canada through South
America. The scarlet kingsnake is the subspecies that
occurs in the southeastern US. Scarlet kings occur in a
variety of terrestrial habitats including Florida scrub.
These beautiful little snakes (up to 20") eat
lizards and smaller snakes that they kill by
constriction. They spend most of their time out of sight
under logs or under the bark of dead trees. Note the red
snout and the color pattern of red-touching-black.
Poisonous coral snakes have a black snout and a color
pattern with red-touching-yellow. Remember this little
ditty:
