Scarletsnake

Scientific Name: Cemophora coccinea

Average Length: 14–24 inches (36–61 cm)

Maximum Length: About 24 inches (61 cm)

Status at Snake Road: Historical Record Only (Presence Unconfirmed)

Venomous? No

Description

The Scarletsnake is one of North America's most beautiful small snakes. It has a cream, white, or pale yellow background color with brilliant red blotches bordered by narrow black bands. The head is red or orange-red with a dark band across the eyes, and the belly is plain white or cream without markings.

Unlike the superficially similar Milksnake, the Scarletsnake has smooth, glossy scales, a distinctly pointed, projecting snout adapted for digging, and a body that is more slender overall.

Behavior

Scarletsnakes are highly secretive and spend most of their lives beneath loose soil, leaf litter, logs, or rocks. They are primarily active on warm nights and after heavy rains, making them difficult to observe even where they are known to occur.

They feed largely on reptile eggs, particularly those of lizards and snakes, but will also eat small reptiles, amphibians, and occasionally rodents.

Scarletsnakes are exceptionally docile and almost never attempt to bite when handled.

Habitat

Throughout their range, Scarletsnakes are associated with well-drained sandy or rocky woodlands where they can burrow beneath loose soil and leaf litter.

The habitat around the Pine Hills and Wolf Lake area appears suitable for the species, which is one reason the historical Illinois record has remained intriguing to herpetologists.

Where You're Most Likely to See One

At present, there are no confirmed modern records of Scarletsnakes from Snake Road or anywhere else in Illinois. The only Illinois specimen was collected in 1942 at nearby Wolf Lake Swamp, just south of the LaRue-Pine Hills area. Despite numerous surveys over the decades, no additional specimens have been documented, leaving the species' continued presence in Illinois uncertain.

Because of this, visitors should consider a Scarletsnake an exciting historical possibility rather than a species they should expect to encounter.

Commonly Confused With

Milksnake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

This is the species most often confused with a Scarletsnake. Both have bright red markings outlined in black, but Milksnakes have larger, saddle-shaped blotches, a black-and-white checkered belly, and a broader head. Scarletsnakes have a plain white belly, smooth scales, and a pointed snout that projects beyond the lower jaw.

Fun Fact

The Scarletsnake remains one of Illinois' greatest herpetological mysteries. Every accepted Illinois record traces back to a single specimen collected in 1942 near Wolf Lake, only a short distance from Snake Road. Whether a small population still survives, or whether that lone snake represented an isolated wanderer, remains unknown despite decades of searching.