Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: SCARLETSNAKE, NORTHERN

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: REPTILIA

Order: SERPENTES

Family: COLUBRIDAE

Genus: CEMOPHORA

Species: COCCINEA

SubSpecies: COPEI

Taxonomic Authority: JAN

Taxonomy References: 001 , 012 , 016

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S2S3
GLOBAL RANK G5T5

Status References: 014 , 005 , 006

Habitat Summary

"Occur in diverse habitat, including swamps and rough hilly areas."

Primary Habitat: "Savanna/Shrub/Woodland - woodl"

References: 002 , 006 , 007

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occurs in south-central Missouri, and in extreme southwest corner *13*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
CAMDEN CAPE GIRARDEAU ADAIR
MARIES DUNKLIN ANDREW
MILLER MORGAN ATCHISON
PHELPS AUDRAIN
SCOTT BARRY
STONE BARTON
BATES
BENTON
BOLLINGER
BOONE
BUCHANAN
BUTLER
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
NEW MADRID
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 015 , 002 , 006 , 007 , 010 , 011 , 013 , 017

Distribution by Watersheds

Meramec R.
Bourbeuse R.
Osage R. from Warsaw to Bagnell Dam
Niangua R.
Osage R. from Bagnell Dam to Mo. R.
Gasconade R. from Big Piney R. to Mo. R.
White R. above Tablerock Dam
James R.
White R. below Tablerock Dam and Little North Fork White R.

Comments: "Likely to occur in units listed, based on county occurrence."

Distribution by Ecoregions

Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark: Upper Ozark
Ozark: White River

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Terrestrial" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Palustrine

Aquatic Associations:

"Palustrine", "Forested"

References for Aquatic Associations: 002

Habitat Types:

Shortleaf Pine Reproduction (0-3" dbh)
Shortleaf Pine Reproduction (3-9" dbh)
Mature Shortleaf Pine (open understory)
Shortleaf Pine Old Growth
Limestone Glade
Swamp
Mature Shortleaf Pine (dense understory)
Eastern Red Cedar (70% + crown closure)
Eastern Red Cedar (30-70% crown closure)
Oak-Hickory Old Growth

References for Habitat Types: 002 , 003

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Forest
Upland forest
Dry Forest
Dry-Mesic Forest
Upland Limestone/Dolomite Forest
Dry Limestone/Dolomite Forest
Dry-Mesic Limestone/Dolomite Forest
Upland Chert Forest
Xeric Chert Forest
Dry Chert Forest
Dry-Mesic Chert Forest
Upland Sandstone Forest
Xeric Sandstone Forest
Dry Sandstone Forest
Dry-Mesic Sandstone Forest
Upland Sand Forest
Dry Sand Forest
Upland Igneous Forest
Flatwoods
Primary
Glade
Limestone Glade
Dolomite Glade
Sandstone Glade
Wetland
Swamps
Swamp

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 002 , 008 , 009 , 003

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Reptiles; Egg stage
Mammals; Juvenile stage
Amphibians; Not Specified
Sauria (lizards, skinks); Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 008

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements:

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)
General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features: hills
Soil type: sandy soil
Soil type specified in comments(00300)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 002 , 008

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Natural features: hills

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 002

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

References for feeding adult niche requirements:

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

References for resting adult niche requirements: 002 , 008

Niche Requirement Summary

General habitat association specified in comments(00270)
Inland wetlands: swamp
Natural features: hills
Other niche requirements specified in comments(99999)
Soil type specified in comments(00300)
Soil type: sandy soil

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Lays eggs-June *02*.
018 Clutch 3-8 eggs *02*.
099 Nickerson believes MO population isolated from population on Ozark plateau of ark. Osage and MO river systems serve as barriers to species *07*.

Life History Information

Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy: stalking
Foraging sites: rocks
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Nest/den site: stumps
Nest/den site: log
Nest/den site: under rocks
Clutch/litter size specified in comments(018)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
007 Lays eggs-June *02*.
018 Clutch 3-8 eggs *02*.
099 Nickerson believes MO population isolated from population on Ozark plateau of ark. Osage and MO river systems serve as barriers to species *07*.

References for life history: 002 , 007 , 009

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Barren land - maintain glades
Forest - maintain early stage of ecological succession
Forest - maintain natural vegetation (native)
Forest - maintain wilderness environment
Forest - reforestation

Beneficial Management References: 009

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:
Maintain cedar glades *09*.

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Unpb Missouri Department Of Conservation. Checklist Of Missouri Amphibians And Reptiles. Po Box 180. Jefferson City, Mo. 65102.
002 Anderson, P. 1965. The Reptiles Of Missouri. Univ. Missouri Press, Columbia, Mo. 330pp.
003 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
004 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
005 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
006 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
007 Nickerson, M.A. 1967. The Scarlet Snake, Cemophora Coccinea, In Missouri. Herpetologica 23(1):74.
008 Williams, K.L. and L.D. Wilson. 1967. A Review Of The Colubrid Snake Genus Cemophora Cope. Tulane Stud. Zool. 13:103-124.
009 Unpb Johnson, T.R. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. P.O. Box 180 Jefferson City Mo 65102. (573-751-4115)
010 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
011 Johnson, T.R. 2000. The Amphibians And Reptiles Of Missouri, 2nd. Ed. Missouri Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 400 Pp.
012 Collins, J.T. (Ed.). 1990. Standard Common And Current Scientifc Names For North American Amphibians And Reptiles, 3rd Ed. Soc. For The Study Of Amphibians and Reptiles, Herp. Cir. No. 19. 41 Pp.
013 Daniel, R.E. and B.S. Edmond. 2002. Revised county distribution maps of amphibians and reptiles of Missouri. MO Herp. Assoc. Newsletter 15:16-38.
014 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
015 Daniel, R.E., B.S. Edmond and T.R. Johnson. 1998. New And Previously Unreported Records Of Amphibians And Reptiles In Missouri For 1998. Mo Herpetol. Assoc. Newsletter 11:8-17.
016 Crother, B.I. (Ed.). 2008. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding (6th ed.). Society for the study of amphibians and reptiles. Herpetological Circular No. 37.
017 Daniel, R.E., B.S. Edmond and J.T. Briggler. 2008. New herpetological records from Missouri for 2008. MO Herp. Assoc. Newsletter 21:9-14.