The scarlet kingsnake and the coral snake, both adorned with striking red, black, and yellow bands, often lead to confusion due to their similar appearances. Accurate identification is important, as one species poses a significant threat while the other is harmless. Understanding their differences is a matter of safety for anyone living in or visiting their shared habitats.
The Peril of Misidentification
Misidentification of scarlet kingsnakes and coral snakes can have serious consequences. The coral snake possesses a neurotoxic venom that affects the nervous system. A bite can lead to severe symptoms like muscle weakness, difficulty speaking, swallowing, breathing, and even paralysis, with respiratory failure being the most dangerous complication. While coral snake bites are rare due to their reclusive nature, a delayed response can worsen outcomes. The scarlet kingsnake is non-venomous, posing no danger beyond a harmless bite if provoked. Mistaking a kingsnake for a coral snake can cause unnecessary fear, while failing to identify a coral snake delays medical intervention.
Key Physical Distinctions
A primary method for differentiating these snakes lies in their distinct color band patterns. The coral snake’s red and yellow bands touch, a pattern remembered by the rhyme “red on yellow, kill a fellow.” Conversely, the scarlet kingsnake has red bands touching black bands, summarized by “red on black, venom lack.” This banding order difference is a consistent and reliable visual cue. Both species feature bands that completely encircle their bodies.
Beyond color patterns, other physical features aid identification. The coral snake has a small, black snout, followed by a broad yellow band behind its eyes. Its head is small and not much wider than its neck, giving it a streamlined appearance. Scarlet kingsnakes, in contrast, possess a red snout.
Geographic Overlap and Habitat
The geographic distributions of the scarlet kingsnake and the coral snake overlap significantly, particularly across the southeastern United States. Coral snakes are found in scattered localities along the southern coastal plains from North Carolina to Louisiana, including all of Florida. The Texas coral snake, a closely related species, inhabits Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas. These snakes prefer well-drained, sandy soils and habitats such as pine flatwoods, scrub oak sandhills, and forested areas, seeking refuge underground or under debris.
Scarlet kingsnakes also inhabit the southeastern and eastern United States, ranging from southern New Jersey to eastern Louisiana, and throughout Florida. Their preferred habitats include pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, pine savannas, and mesic pine-oak forests. They are found under logs, rocks, decaying wood, or in suburban areas where their habitats have been encroached upon. This shared range and preference for similar environments mean encounters with either snake are possible in many regions.
Behavioral Differences and Safety Protocols
Coral snakes are reclusive and fossorial, spending much of their time underground, under logs, or within leaf litter. While considered nocturnal, they can be active during the day. They tend to flee when confronted and bite only if provoked or restrained. Scarlet kingsnakes are also secretive and fossorial, active at night, dawn, or dusk, though they can be seen during the day. They are skilled climbers and may be found in trees or on buildings.
If a snake is encountered, observing it from a distance is the safest approach, as provoking any snake can lead to a defensive bite. If a coral snake bite is suspected, immediate emergency medical attention is necessary. Do not attempt home remedies such as tourniquets, cutting the wound, or sucking out venom, as these can worsen the situation. Keeping the bitten area still and at heart level while awaiting medical help is recommended. Prompt treatment with antivenom, if available, is the primary course of action for coral snake envenomation.