Missouri Animals Northern scarlet snake   (Cemophora coccinea copei) Chordate: Vertebrate: Reptile: Serpentia: Colubridae Native North American snake Habitat: pine forests. Diet: lizards, small snakes, mice.. ID Features: alternating red, black, and white body colors, orange head. Natural History: The northern scarlet snake is a medium-sized snake that grows to 20 inches. It is very secretive and is normally found under rocks and logs on sandy soil. It kills by constriction..

The graphics and text are from: The Amphibians and Reptiles of Missouri by Tom R. Johnson, Missouri Department of Conservation, ©1992