Cemophora coccinea copei, commonly known as the northern scarlet snake, is a subspecies of harmless colubridsnake that is native to the southern and eastern United States.
The northern scarlet snake grows to 36–51 cm (14-20 inches) in total length (including tail). It is typically a gray or white base color, with 17-24 red blotches bordered by black that go down the back. The black borders on the blotches often join on the lower sides of the snake forming a line down the length of the body. The dorsal scales are smooth. The northern scarlet snake can sometimes be mistaken for the scarlet kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides) or the eastern milk snake (Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum) in the areas where the geographic ranges of the species overlap.[citation needed]
Behavioredit
The northern scarlet snake is a secretive, burrowing species, preferring habitats of soft soils, often in open forested areas or developed agricultural land. They spend most of their time hidden, emerging to feed on small rodents and lizards, but they have a particular taste for reptileeggs, swallowing them whole or puncturing them and consuming the contents.[citation needed]
Reproductionedit
Mating of the northern scarlet snake occurs in March through June, with 3-8 eggs laid in mid summer, and hatching in early fall. Each hatchling is 13–15 cm (5-6 inches) in total length (including tail).[citation needed]
The northern scarlet snake holds no particular conservation status throughout most of its range, but it is listed as endangered species in the states of Indiana and Florida. It is only found in a single county in each state as these are the northern and southern extents of its range.[citation needed]
Referencesedit
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Cemophora coccinea copei, p. 58).
External linksedit
Species Cemophora coccinea at The Reptile Database
Herps of Texas: Cemophora coccinea
Further readingedit
Jan G (1863). "Enumerazione sistematica degli ofidi appartenenti al gruppo Coronellidae ". Archivio per la zoologia, l'anatomia e la fisiologia2 (2): 213-230 + Plates XVII-XVIII. (Cemophora copei, new species, p. 231). (in Italian).
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 copei, pp. 367–368).
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), ISBN0-307-47009-1 (hardcover). (Cemophora coccinea copei, p. 178).
May 03, 2024
cemophora, coccinea, copei, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Cemophora coccinea copei news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message Cemophora coccinea copei commonly known as the northern scarlet snake is a subspecies of harmless colubrid snake that is native to the southern and eastern United States Cemophora coccinea copei Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Reptilia Order Squamata Suborder Serpentes Family Colubridae Genus Cemophora Species C coccinea Subspecies C c copei Trinomial name Cemophora coccinea copeiJan 1863 Synonyms Cemophora copei Jan 1863 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Behavior 4 Reproduction 5 Geographic distribution 6 Conservation status 7 References 8 External links 9 Further readingEtymology editThe specific name or epithet copei is in honor of renowned American taxonomist Edward Drinker Cope 1 Description editThe northern scarlet snake grows to 36 51 cm 14 20 inches in total length including tail It is typically a gray or white base color with 17 24 red blotches bordered by black that go down the back The black borders on the blotches often join on the lower sides of the snake forming a line down the length of the body The dorsal scales are smooth The northern scarlet snake can sometimes be mistaken for the scarlet kingsnake Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides or the eastern milk snake Lampropeltis triangulum triangulum in the areas where the geographic ranges of the species overlap citation needed Behavior editThe northern scarlet snake is a secretive burrowing species preferring habitats of soft soils often in open forested areas or developed agricultural land They spend most of their time hidden emerging to feed on small rodents and lizards but they have a particular taste for reptile eggs swallowing them whole or puncturing them and consuming the contents citation needed Reproduction editMating of the northern scarlet snake occurs in March through June with 3 8 eggs laid in mid summer and hatching in early fall Each hatchling is 13 15 cm 5 6 inches in total length including tail citation needed Geographic distribution editThe northern scarlet snake is found in the United States in eastern Texas eastern Oklahoma Arkansas Louisiana Mississippi Alabama Georgia South Carolina North Carolina Tennessee Kentucky Illinois southern Indiana Virginia Maryland Delaware and barely into northern Florida with disjunct populations New Jersey and central Missouri citation needed Conservation status editThe northern scarlet snake holds no particular conservation status throughout most of its range but it is listed as endangered species in the states of Indiana and Florida It is only found in a single county in each state as these are the northern and southern extents of its range citation needed References edit Beolens Bo Watkins Michael Grayson Michael 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Cemophora coccinea copei p 58 External links editSpecies Cemophora coccinea at The Reptile Database Herps of Texas Cemophora coccinea Animals of the Big Thicket Natural PreserveFurther reading editJan G 1863 Enumerazione sistematica degli ofidi appartenenti al gruppo Coronellidae Archivio per la zoologia l anatomia e la fisiologia 2 2 213 230 Plates XVII XVIII Cemophora copei new species p 231 in Italian 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 ISBN 978 0 544 12997 9 Cemophora coccinea copei pp 367 368 Smith HM Brodie ED Jr 1982 Reptiles of North America A Guide to Field Identification New York Golden Press 240 pp ISBN 0 307 13666 3 paperback ISBN 0 307 47009 1 hardcover Cemophora coccinea copei p 178 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cemophora coccinea copei amp oldid 1152485982, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,