Colubridae
Scarletsnake
HarmlessCemophora coccinea
6 photographs of the Scarletsnake. © Andrew Durso.
The Scarletsnake (Cemophora coccinea) is a non-venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 6 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Scarletsnake
The Scarletsnake belongs to the Colubridae family, colubrids. The largest snake family, and the one most snakes you meet belong to.
Colubridae is by far the biggest family of snakes, with roughly two thousand species worldwide. It is a catch-all of mostly slender, agile, day-active snakes: ratsnakes, kingsnakes, gartersnakes, watersnakes, racers, whipsnakes, and hundreds more. The vast majority are harmless to people and kill prey by grabbing or constricting rather than with venom.
Its genus, Cemophora, covers scarletsnakes. Small, secretive burrowers in red, black, and white bands that mimic the venomous coral snake but are completely harmless.
The Scarletsnake is non-venomous and harmless to people. Like most snakes it is a quiet predator that helps keep rodents and other small prey in check.
It has been recorded in the United States of America, China, Nepal, Canada, India and Mexico. In the United States it has been documented in 15 states, including Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama.
Field-guide summary compiled from taxonomy and verified occurrence records. Detailed natural-history notes for this species are still being added.
Frequently asked: Scarletsnake
- Is the Scarletsnake venomous?
- No. The Scarletsnake (Cemophora coccinea) is non-venomous and is not considered dangerous to humans. Like most snakes, it will retreat rather than bite when given the chance.
- Is the Scarletsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Scarletsnake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Scarletsnake dangerous?
- The Scarletsnake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Scarletsnake live?
- The Scarletsnake has verified records in 6 countries, including United States of America, China, Nepal. See the distribution section below for its full range.
Where it is found
Snakes it is confused with
Texas CoralsnakeVenomousA harmless mimic of the US coral snake. On US coral snakes red bands touch yellow; on these mimics red usually touches black. This color rule is reliable ONLY in the United States — it does not hold for coral snakes elsewhere.
Scarletsnake vs Texas Coralsnake→
More Colubridae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Cemophora
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Cemophora coccinea
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.