Skip to main content

Red Milk Snake

Lampropeltis triangulum syspila

Photo by NeilDazet
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

38.9517, -92.3341

Field Notes

Description:

A brightly colored, medium-sized (2 feet long), nonvenomous snake with smooth scales. Red Milk Snakes usually have 20-30 orange-red dorsal blotches bordered in black.

Habitat:

Usually found under rocks on rocky, south-facing hillsides including glades. It may also be found along the edge of forests where there are rocks and logs. This species is secretive and seldom seen in the open.

Notes:

The Red Milk Snake is often mistaken for a coral snake, a venomous species that does not occur in Missouri.

Reference Links:

Milk Snake, Red Milk Snake | Lampropeltis triangulum syspila | Reptile

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (9)
LisaPowers
Beautiful specimen Neil. Thanks for sharing!
NeilDazet
Thanks Carol! This is an older spotting, but I just added an additional photo and better descriptive notes.
MikeVanValen
One of my favorite ssp. that I have yet to see in the wild.
MitchRay
I trust you, it just looks like a Scarlet Snake. Of course I didn't take a look at the ventral side. Serves me right for assuming. Awesome Snake, I've seen precisely one Milk Snake in the wild.
NeilDazet
Thanks. Scarlet snakes are extremely rare in Missouri. This is definitely a red milk snake. On scarlet snakes the snout is reddish/orange. Red milk snakes usually have a gray/mottled snout.
MitchRay
Interesting. Our Milk Snake has markings that extend around the body. I didn't realize yours was different. Very Cool.
MitchRay
Very cool, I've only seen one

Spotted for Missions

Mission
The Color Red
Mission
Reptiles of the World
Mission
Snakes of the World
Mission
Snakes of the United States - Center for Snake Conservation
Mission
National Geographic's Great Nature Project

Tags

Photographed
PublishedApril 10, 2011

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies