12 Snakes That Can Be Mistaken for Coral Snakes

Coral snakes are a highly venomous species found mainly in the southern United States. They have distinctive red, yellow/white, and black colored banding that serves as a warning to potential predators. This vibrant pattern, known as aposematic coloration, advertises the snake’s dangerous venom.

While coral snakes have a distinctive appearance there are many harmless snake species that resemble them, often exhibiting similar red, yellow/white and black banding. These non-venomous snakes tend to mimic the coral snake’s pattern, a phenomenon known as Batesian mimicry. By mimicking the coral snake’s appearance, these harmless species can avoid predation.

Here is an overview of 12 snake species that are frequently mistaken for coral snakes due to their similar appearances:

1. Scarlet Kingsnake

The scarlet kingsnake is perhaps the coral snake’s most common mimic. It has vibrant red, black and white/yellow banding. However, the order of the bands is different than in coral snakes. Scarlet kingsnakes also have a red head rather than a black head like coral snakes. They are found throughout the southeastern United States.

2. Milk Snake

Milk snakes exhibit the typical red, black, and white/yellow banding of coral snakes. Some have a red head while others have a black head, making identification difficult. However, milk snakes grow much larger, up to 70 inches long compared to coral snakes that average 20 inches. Milk snakes are found throughout most of North and Central America.

3. Scarlet Snake

The aptly named scarlet snake has red, black, and cream/yellow bands that wrap all the way around its body like a coral snake. However, scarlet snakes have a red head and grow slightly larger. They are found from New Jersey to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas.

4. Arizona Mountain Kingsnake

This kingsnake inhabits Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It has red, black, and white bands, sometimes with the white replaced by yellow. Unlike coral snakes, Arizona mountain kingsnakes have a white snout and are thicker-bodied.

5. Sonoran Shovel-Nosed Snake

This mostly nocturnal species is found in southern Arizona and Mexico’s Sonoran desert. It is banded in red, black, and white but has an unbanded white belly unlike coral snakes. The shovel-nose is mildly venomous but not considered dangerous to humans.

6. California Mountain Kingsnake

The California mountain kingsnake is found in California and northern Baja California. It has the typical red, black, and white/yellow banding but sports an all-black head. Unlike the nocturnal coral snake, this species is diurnal.

7. Long-Nosed Snake

The long-nosed snake occurs in Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico. It has red, black, and white bands. However, the white bands run along the edges of its black bands rather than being separated by black as in coral snakes. It also has a tri-colored head.

8. Thornscrub Hook-Nosed Snake

This species is found in southern Texas and northeastern Mexico. It is brownish, gray, or olive-colored with orange, red, or brown crossbands outlined in black. The belies are a solid lighter color rather than banded.

9. Gray-Banded Kingsnake

Gray-banded kingsnakes live in western Texas and southern New Mexico. As the name suggests, they have gray and black bands between orange-red bands. They also have a tri-colored head and grow to around 4 feet long.

10. Desert Shovel-Nosed Snake

This coral snake lookalike is found from southern California to northern Mexico. It is tan, cream, or pale orange with red and black bands only on the top half of its body. The head is pale like the belly rather than black.

11. Texas Scarlet Snake

Once considered a subspecies of the scarlet snake, the Texas scarlet snake has a red-and-black head and red body with scattered black bands. It is larger than coral snakes at over 2 feet long and is found in southern Texas.

12. Saddled Leaf-Nosed Snake

The saddled leaf-nosed snake occurs in extreme southern Texas. It has a brown, orange, or gray body with darker saddle-shaped crossbands. The head is the same color as the body. They bear live young unlike coral snakes that lay eggs.

While these species may resemble coral snakes, most can be differentiated by trained eyes based on head color, banding sequence, body size and proportions, habitat, or reproductive habits. When in doubt, it’s best to avoid contact and let the snake be. With proper identification, even species that look like coral snakes can be appreciated from a safe distance for their beauty.