The scarlet snake is relatively small, growing to a total length (tail included) of 14–26inches (36–66cm) at adult size. The dorsal pattern consists of a light gray ground color, with a series of black-bordered red, white or yellow blotches down the back. The belly is either a uniform light gray or white color. The dorsal blotches can extend down the sides of the body, appearing somewhat like banding or rings, which sometimes leads to confusion with other sympatric species such as the venomouscoral snakes or the harmless scarlet king snake.[6] The similar pattern exhibited by these three snakes is a form of mimicry known as batesian mimicry. This is a phenomenon in which members of a palatable species gain protection from predation by resembling or mimicking the defensive signaling of an unpalatable or defended species.[7]
Etymology
The generic name, Cemophora, is derived from the Greek words Kemos, meaning "muzzle", and phoros, meaning "bearing", referring to the pronounced rostral scale characteristic of members of the genus.[8]
In Indiana, the scarlet snake is listed as an endangered species.[10] In New Jersey, the scarlet snake has been recommended by the New Jersey Endangered and Nongame Advisory Committee to be given threatened status for the species within the state, but no formal rule proposal has been filed to date. The threatened status is largely due to population declines and habitat loss. Reasons for the decline in the population are loss of habitat, illegal capture for the pet trade, road mortality, and direct intentional killing.[11]
Behavior and diet
The scarlet snake is nocturnal and is active only during the summer months. It can be found during the day beneath logs and under pine debris or other organic litter. It also burrows underground during daytime hours, or uses previously dug tunnels as shelter.[12] At night it is often seen crossing roads, or prowling the forest floor searching for prey.[12] The diet of C. coccinea consists of lizards, small rodents, and eggs of lizards, turtles, and other snakes. Its large, very sharp posterior teeth are used to slash open large reptile eggs. The snake will either squeeze an egg to expel its contents or thrust its head into the egg to break it open. The smallest reptile eggs are eaten in their entirety.[6]
There is very little known about the reproductive habits of the scarlet snake. It is oviparous, generally laying 2–9 eggs per clutch, with the typical clutch yielding five eggs. Breeding occurs throughout the spring months, and eggs are laid throughout the summer in burrows or under rocks. The eggs hatch two months after being laid, typically in the late summer or autumn.[6]
In Florida, one female scarlet snake laid 13 fertile eggs, which exceeded the largest previously reported clutch of 9 eggs.[13]
Predators and defense
The natural predators of the scarlet snake are snake-eating snakes such as coral snakes, and predatory birds and mammals. The scarlet snake rarely bites when picked up by humans, but it can release a foul-smelling odor.[6] The scarlet snake will use its version of batesian mimicry and mimic the venomous coral snakes as a defense mechanism in order to reduce predation.[14]
Conservation
The two greatest threats that scarlet snakes face are the destruction of their habitats because of commercial development and the rising rate of road mortality.[6] Other threats are illegal capture of the species for the pet trade and intentional killing.[11]
Subspecies
The following two subspecies are recognized as being valid.[15]
↑ "Cemopora coccinea ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov
↑ Boulenger GA (1894). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume II., Containing the Conclusion of the Colubridæ Aglyphæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xi + 382 pp. + Plates I–XX. (Genus Cemophora, p. 213; species Cemophora coccinea, p. 214).
↑ Williams KL (1967). "A Review of the Colubrid Snake Genus Cemophora Cope". Tulane Studies in Zoology13 (4): 103-124.
↑ Lev-Yadun S (2018). "Müllerian and Batesian mimicry out, Darwinian and Wallacian mimicry in, for rewarding/rewardless flowers". Plant Signal Behavavior13 (6): e1480846. doi: 10.1080/15592324.2018.1480846. Epub 2018 Jun 26. PMID 29888995; PMCID: PMC6110362.
↑ Williams, Kenneth L. (1985). "Cemophora, C. coccinea".
Behler JL, King FW (1979). The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Reptiles and Amphibians. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. 743 pp. ISBN0-394-50824-6. (Cemophora coccinea, pp.592–593 + Plates 595, 596, 607).
Blumenbach [JF] (1788). "Einige Naturhistorische Bemerkungen bey Gelegenheit einer Schweizer-Reise". Magazin für das Neueste aus der Physik und Naturgeschichte5 (2): 13–23. (Coluber coccineus, new species, p.21). (in German and Latin).
Conant R (1975). A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Second Edition. The Peterson Field Guide Series. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. xviii + 429 pp. + Plates 1–48. ISBN0-395-19979-4 (hardcover); ISBN0-395-19977-8 (paperback). (Cemophora coccinea, pp.211–212 + Plates 30, 31 + Map 152).
Conant R, Bridges W (1939). What Snake Is That?: A Field Guide to the Snakes of the United States East of the Rocky Mountains. (with 108 drawings by Edmond Malnate). New York and London: D. Appleton-Century. Frontispiece map + viii + 163 pp. + Plates A–C, 1–32. (Cemophora coccinea, pp.85–86 + Plate 26, Figure 78).
Powell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 207 Figures, 47 Plates. ISBN978-0-544-12997-9. (Cemophora coccinea, pp.367–368 + Figure 159 on p.330 + Plates 32, 44).
Schmidt KP, Davis DD (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Cemophora coccinea, pp.193–194, Figure 60).
Smith HM, Brodie ED Jr (1982). Reptiles of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. New York: Golden Press. 240 pp. ISBN0-307-13666-3 (paperback). (Cemophora coccinea, pp.178–179).
Stejneger L, Barbour T (1917). A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press. 125 pp. (Cemophora coccinea, p.91).
Wright AH, Wright AA (1957). Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Ithaca and London: Comstock. 1,105 pp. (in two volumes) (Cemophora coccinea, pp.111–115, Figure 36, Map 13).
Zim HS, Smith HM (1956). Reptiles and Amphibians: A Guide to Familiar American Species. A Golden Nature Guide. New York: Simon and Schuster. 160 pp. (Scarlet snake, Cemophora doliata, pp.100, 156).
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