Scarlet Kingsnake Lampropeltis elapsoides  (Holbrook, 1838)
An adult specimen from Okaloosa County, Florida Image © Suzanne L. Collins, 2001
Taxonomic Comments:
Armstrong, Frymire & Zimmerer (2001 Journal of Herpetology 35(4): 688-693) concluded that this taxon exhibits little, if any, gene flow or intergradation with sympatric L. t. syspila in western Kentucky. Pyron & Burbrink (2009. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 52: 524-529), using both mtDNA and nucleic DNA, recognized this serpent as a distinct species, Lampropeltis elapsoides. Standard common name remains Scarlet Kingsnake. CNAH Note: CNAH has made this change in anticipation that its snake systematics group will so approve for the next print edition of the CNAH common names checklist.