How to identify Scarlet King snake, the red reptile commonly seen in gardens that is often mistaken for a deadly coral snake

There's an old rhyme that's been drilled into the heads of hikers, kids, and anyone who's spent time in the American South: "Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, friend of Jack." It's meant to help you tell the difference between a deadly coral snake and basically everything else that's colorful and dangerous-looking.


Problem is, nature doesn't always play by the rules we make up.


The scarlet kingsnake is living proof of that. This absolutely stunning red reptile gets mistaken for a coral snake so often that it's practically a right of passage for the species. People see the vibrant red, the yellow bands, the black stripes, and they panic. They think they're about to die. Some even kill the poor snake on sight, convinced they're protecting themselves from a venomous killer.


Except the scarlet kingsnake isn't venomous at all. It's harmless. Completely, totally harmless.

The confusion that won't go away

The scarlet kingsnake is genuinely beautiful. It's got these striking bands of red, yellow, and black that run the length of its body in a pattern that does look unsettlingly similar to a coral snake at first glance. Both snakes are found in similar geographic areas, mostly across the southeastern United States. Both are relatively small, typically ranging from 16 to 24 inches, though some can stretch to about 27 inches. Both have that same eye-catching coloration that makes them stand out against the leaf litter and branches of the forest floor.


And yeah, if you're not paying attention, they could fool you.


The thing is, there are actual differences. The bands on a scarlet kingsnake are arranged differently than on a coral snake. Coral snakes have red bands that touch yellow bands directly—hence the "red on yellow, kill a fellow" warning. Scarlet kingsnakes have black bands separating the red from the yellow. So the pattern goes red-black-yellow-black-red, versus the coral snake's red-yellow-red-yellow pattern.


It's a real difference. But it's also the kind of thing that's hard to remember when you're standing in front of a coiled snake and your adrenaline is pumping.

A harmless hunter

What makes the scarlet kingsnake so misunderstood is that it's actually a really beneficial snake to have around. These snakes eat other snakes, mostly smaller ones. They're ophiophagous, which is just a fancy way of saying they eat reptiles and other snakes. In fact, they'll eat smaller snakes without hesitation, including the venomous species people actually should be worried about. If anything, having scarlet kingsnakes in your yard is a good thing.

The real problem

The tragedy here is that scarlet kingsnakes have been killed unnecessarily for decades because of this confusion. People see the red bands and panic without actually looking at the pattern carefully.


The coral snake, on the other hand, is genuinely venomous. It's the one you should actually be careful around. But coral snakes are reclusive. If you ever see a snake with red, yellow, and black bands down South, take a second. Look at the pattern. Check whether the red is touching the yellow.