Red snakes are found all over the world.
Some of the largest red snakes are found in Central and South America.
The Amazon is one of the rainforests where red snakes are found in high numbers.
Red snakes can be both venomous and non-venomous.
Most red snake species are also found in other morphs.
Some have a uniform red coloring while others have a multi-colored body that’s also red as the following species.
Table of Contents
1. Green Tree Python – Red Snake with White Spots
Scientific name: Morelia viridis
Common name: Green tree python
The Green Tree Python is known for its various tropical morphs. It comes in a red coloration with cream spots on the dorsal.
It’s believed the coloration of Green Tree Pythons is influenced by the camouflage needs of this species.
As young snakes, Green Tree Pythons live on the edge of the rainforest.
They have a yellow color to help blend in with these habitats.
As adults, they can have a red color which helps them blend in with the vegetation and the soil color in the rainforest.
These snakes are common in parts of Australia, New Guinea, and Indonesia. You can find these pythons on tree branches.
They can climb and their coiled bodies are seen resting on branches high above the floor.
As pythons, these snakes grow to a size of up to a few feet.
2. Rainbow boa
Scientific name: Epicrates cenchria
Common name: Rainbow boa, slender boa
Rainbow boas are some of the most popular snakes in the snake pet industry for their multiple morphs.
The Brazilian Rainbow boa is one of the red morphs of this species.
Its vibrant red color and the 3 stripes on its head make it look like a rare species.
This snake is common in Central and South America.
It lives in various rainforest habitats from Costa Rica to Brazil.
This species is also found in open land such as savannahs.
It might be difficult to spot in the rainforest as it spends the day hiding as a nocturnal species.
3. Red Coffee Snake
Scientific name: Ninia sebae
Common name: Red coffee snake, redback coffee snake
Common in Central America, the Red Coffee snake is also mostly red.
It has atypical scale shapes and it can be interpreted as a species that tries to mimic Coral snakes.
However, most of its body is uniform red while its head is both red and yellow.
Snakes of this genus aren’t venomous.
They are known to feed on slugs in forests and savannahs.
This snake species is well-adapted to living at high altitudes. It lives in habitats at over 7.000 feet.
The Red Coffee snake is a species that knows to play dead whenever it sees a large predator.
4. Eastern Milksnake – Red Snake with White Stripes
Scientific name: Lampropeltis triangulum
Common name: Eastern milksnake, milk snake, milksnake
The Eastern Milksnake is a species known for its red, black, and white bands across its body.
Snakes of this genus are known for living in the South. Some people believe it drinks milk from cows, which is false.
This species is found in suburban and rural areas on farms and crops.
Rodents are among its preferred prey that lives on farms as there’s plenty of food for the small mammals.
Eastern Milksnakes are also found on open land and at the margins of forests.
These snakes grow to an average of 25-27 inches being a common species in the snake pet industry given their docile nature and reduced size.
Mostly eating rodents, this species mates in the summer.
Young Eastern Milksnakes emerge in the fall.
This species overwinters in rodent burrows.
5. Forest Flame Snake
Scientific name: Oxyrhopus petolarius
Common name: forest flame snake, false coral, calico snake
Forest Flame snakes have alternating black, red, and white bands across their bodies.
Forest Flame snakes are common in the rainforests of South America.
It’s a venomous species considered dangerous. Its venom is lethal to small animals such as lizards which are paralyzed by the snake’s bite.
Forest Flame Snakes are well-adapted to various forest habitats, including those at high altitudes.
Like other red snakes living in the rainforest, the Forest Flame snake can live at altitudes above 7.000 feet.
This species can grow to a maximum size of 36 inches and this influences the type of prey it can go after.
Forest Flame snakes mostly eat small mammals, small birds, and small eggs.
The light-colored crossbands make this snake species resemble coral snakes. However, its black head makes for easy species differentiation.
6. Scarlet Kingsnake
Scientific name: Lampropeltis elapsoides
Common name: scarlet kingsnake, scarlet milk snake
Scarlet Kingsnakes grow to a maximum body length of 20 inches.
The species resembled venomous coral snakes but Scarlet Kingsnakes aren’t venomous.
Known as nocturnal species, Scarlet Kingsnakes are identified by their large red bands along their body together with narrower black and yellow bands.
The snakes have an evolving diet as they reach adulthood.
From small lizards to large mammals, these snakes constrict and kill almost any type of small prey.
Scarlet Kingsnakes aren’t generally aggressive if not handled.
They bite repeatedly when handled.
These snakes can also release a foul smell when handled.
Scarlet Kingsnakes generally avoid people. They start to vibrate their tails whenever humans approach to keep them at a safe distance.
7. Variable Coralsnake
Scientific name: Micrurus diastema
Common name: variable coralsnake
Part of the Elapidae family, the Variable Coralsnake is a venomous red snake.
Most of its body is red with narrow black bands around it. This snake species also has yellow markings on its head.
There are multiple subspecies of the Variable Coralsnake, most of them in Central America.
This snake is native to Guatemala, Honduras, and other Central American countries.
The species is venomous and should not be handled.
Variable Coralsankes can bite repeatedly.
All of its bites should be treated seriously. The bitten needs to be washed with soap and water before going to the nearest hospital.
8. Red Mountain Ratsnake
Scientific name: Oreocryptophis porphyraceus
Common name: Red Mountain Ratsnake, black-banded trinket snake, red bamboo snake, Thai bamboo rat snake, red mountain racer
The Red Mountain Ratsnake is also known as the Red bamboo snake.
It has a mostly red body with dark stripes that run from head to tail. India is the country that has the most Red Mountain Ratsnakes.
These snakes prefer to live at high altitudes in areas with high humidity. This means the Red Mountain Ratsnake is found in rainforest areas.
The remote habitat of this species doesn’t mean it moves around freely. Snakes of this genus hide under leaves at ground level.
They are often found under rocks or leaves in the rainforests of India, Indonesia, or Laos.
Frogs are abundant in rainforests and are one of the preferred prey of this snake species.
Rodents are also a common food for snakes.
Red Mountain Ratsnakes are terrestrial snakes that only live in evergreen forests.
9. Transandean Capuchin Coralsnake
Scientific name: Micrurus dumerilii
Common name: transandean capuchin coralsnake
This snake species is common in South America. The Transandean Capuchin Coralsnake is highly venomous.
The venom of the species contains powerful neurotoxins which have severe effects on humans.
Partial paralysis, very high levels of pain, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and drooping eyelids are just a few of the effects the venom of this species has.
This snake is also deadly to humans.
The Transandean Capuchin Coralsnakes should be avoided.
It’s identified by its slender body that’s mostly red. Scarce black banding is seen across the body of this species.
Snakes of this species are mostly found in evergreen forests such as rainforests.
They can be seen looking for food which includes young snakes of other species.
10. Neuwied’s False Boa
Scientific name: Pseudoboa neuwiedii
Common name: Neuwied’s false boa, ratonel, ratonera
The Neuwied’s False Boa is a common venomous snake in Northern countries of South America.
This species is highly venomous and even deadly and should not be handled.
It can be identified by its mostly uniform red-brown dorsal coloring. This snake is also known for having a pale color such as pink on its uniform underbelly.
Snakes of this genus grow up to 39 inches.
The most important aspect of this snake is its venom. However, short teeth might prevent it from injecting a lethal amount of venom and piercing human skin.
This snake species is a known constrictor. It suffocates its prey or entangles around it preventing a quick escape before eating it.
Snakes of this species are commonly seen constricting large animals.
11. Wagler’s Sipo
Scientific name: Chironius scurrulus
Common name: Wagler’s sipo, smooth machete savane
This species is present in South America, particularly in the Amazon.
It has red and black specks with yellow edges.
The snake appears red-brown as a result. It has a slender head that’s narrower than the rest of the body.
As a terrestrial species, the coloring of Wagler’s Sipo helps it maintain camouflage.
This species is diurnal and not difficult to find in Venezuela and Colombia.
Snakes of this genus eat frogs and lizards from the rainforest.
12. Yucatecan Cantil
Scientific name: Agkistrodon russeolus
Common name: Yucatecan cantil, wol-poch, uol-poch
The Yucatecan Cantil is native to Mexico. This is a venomous pit viper species resembling Cottonmouths.
Snakes of this genus have a heat-sensing gland just behind the nostril.
The species eats amphibians and reptiles.
The snake grows to a maximum size of 39 inches, similarly to Cottonmouths.
Snakes of this genus live up to 10 years.
They use venom to protect themselves. However, their red colors allow these pit vipers to maintain camouflage in the scrub forests they live in.
Females of the species give birth to live young. Up to 10 young snakes are born per female in a mating season.
13. Red Black-headed Snake – Red Snake with Black Head
Scientific name: Tantilla rubra
Common name: red black-headed snake
This snake species is native to Mexico. It can be found around Pecos and other rivers.
Its habitat is expanding into Guatemala and North America.
Snakes of this genus are known for an almost uniform dark red color.
They resemble Ring-neck snakes as they have a yellow ring-like marking around the neck.
The head of the species is black and contrasts with its red body.
Snakes of this genus are adapted to all types of terrains and woodlands.
It can live at high altitudes of over 7.000 feet.
Snakes of this genus are mostly known as the Devil snake in their native regions due to their vivid red coloring.
14. Crowned False Boa
Scientific name: Pseudoboa coronata
Common name: crowned false boa
This snake is also known as the Amazon Scarlet snake.
It has a dark red dorsal and a bright red, pink, or pale yellow underbelly.
Snakes of this genus are only mildly venomous. They can incur mild skin-level reactions when biting humans, but these aren’t dangerous.
This mildly venomous species is only dangerous to small rodents and similarly-sized prey.
As its name implies, the species is found throughout the Amazon basin. This is now a diminishing habitat which might pose some levels of concern for the species in the future.
Found in Brazil, Colombia, and other South American countries, this snake is terrestrial and easy to find in the rainforest.
Crowned False boas are both diurnal and nocturnal which means they don’t spend a lot of time hiding.
They only prefer to hide when they want to ambush prey and they prefer to lay below logs and rocks.
15. Troschel’s Pampas Snake – Red Snake with Black Spots
Scientific name: Phimophis guianensis
Common name: Troschel’s Pampas snake
This red snake is known for its black head and black markings on its dorsal.
It has a light color underbelly that contrasts its red to brown dorsal.
Part of the Colubridae family, this snake is found in multiple countries of South America.
It lives in Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and other neighboring states.
These snakes are identified by their slender bodies and a maximum size of up to 41 inches.
Most snakes of this family live in savannah and scrubland habitats that aren’t at high elevation.
16. Michoacán Ground Snake
Scientific name: Sonora michoacanensis
Common name: Michoacán Ground Snake
Native to Mexico, this snake species are found in multiple morphs. It’s most common in a uniform red with black marks on the dorsal.
This morph has a black head and a gray ring-like marking around the head.
Snakes of this genus can also be tricolored.
Sonora is the Nort Eastern territory of Mexico where this snake is more common.
As a ground snake, this species feeds on rodents and lizards. It’s often found in the burrows of various rodents which it may or may not eat.
This species lays eggs in clusters in burrows or just above the ground under leaves or other vegetation.
17. Blue-necked Keelback – Red Snake with Black Stripes
Scientific name: Rhabdophis rhodomelas
Common name: blue-necked keelback, blueneck keelback
This species is common in Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia.
Blue-necked Keelback snakes get their name from the cobra-like neck shape when threatened.
This is a venomous species that should be avoided at all costs.
Known for its red-brown coloring, this species is mostly terrestrial even though it swims as well.
Snakes of this genus use their coloring as camouflage as they make their way through leaves and vegetation on the ground.
This snake can be found in grassland and riparian zones. It prefers habitats close to the water so that a quick escape is always possible when facing a predator.
18. Red Spitting Cobra
Scientific name: Naja pallida.
Common name: Red Spitting Cobra.
As one of the most dangerous red snakes in the world, Red Spitting Cobras are seen in different colors. These are the types of snakes that have salmon-red, pink-to-red, or bright red and black colors.
A banded species, the cobra also shows a black band on its neck.
Further differentiating factors include a black shape under its eye that resembles a teardrop.
White, black, or red sections are seen on its underside, which is still mostly red.
The species is known for its highly venomous bites used to paralyze small frogs, toads, mice, and lizards.
Red Spitting Cobras inhabit a widespread habitat in East Africa where they can be lethal to humans.
As its name implies, this snake can also spit its venom apart from injecting it with a bite.
Most Red Spitting Cobras are native to Northeastern and Eastern African territories. They are also increasing in numbers across different areas of Kenya.
Cobras of the species are often found in moist areas of these territories where they can feed on plenty of frogs.
19. Coral Kukri Snake
Scientific name: Oligodon kheriensis.
Common name: coral kukri snake, red coral kukri snake.
A mostly red species found in India, Coral Kukri Snakes are among the least known species of the world due to their remote distribution.
This also leads to a reduced color variation, mostly in the bright red and red-orange nuances.
Its dorsum tends to be slightly darker than its sides and ventral color. A smooth appearance and a blotch-free appearance are specific to this snake.
Coral Kukri Snakes are secretive due to their fossorial characteristics. They live and eat in the ground, which means they are rarely seen.
Some of the most common foods they can find in the ground include worms.
20. Red Coachwhip
Scientific name: Masticophis flagellum piceus.
Common name: red coachwhip, red racer.
Red Coachwhips come in 6 subspecies of different colors and ranges.
The Red Racer or Red Coachwhip comes in different shades of red or often with a pink and red color combination.
A species of The Sonoran and Mexico, this is a snake confirmed in New Mexico as well as in The Joshua Tree National Park.
It features a red dorsum with faint pink or brighter red bands along the body.
Its head also shows red and pink combinations plus larger scales compared to those on its dorsum. Even its eyes can also be red.
Pink nuances dominate its ventral appearance.
Some variants where the head has different colors have also been spotted for its red morph. The head may be seen in an olive-brown morph in these variants.
21. Garden Tree Boa
Scientific name: Corallus hortulana.
Common name: Amazon tree boa, common tree boa, garden tree boa, macabrel.
Growing to a size of 5-6 feet, Garden Tree Boas may be difficult to identify due to their large color variation.
This is a species with bright red nuances, pink nuances, and many other brown, green, or gray nuances.
It can come in uniform coloring or it may show gradient red or pink-red coloring.
Garden Tree Boas can also show patterns such as bands or blotches due to their very high appearance variation.
These snakes aren’t venomous but show a tendency to be aggressive. In captivity, they are mostly seen in zoos where they need vegetation such as trees to wrap around in their enclosure.
22. Peninsula Stripeless Snake
Scientific name: Coniophanes meridanus.
Common name: Peninsula Stripeless Snake.
A species of an orange-red nuance, Peninsula Stripeless Snakes are a species endemic to Mexico.
This snake has a rusty-red appearance as an adult and it shows a head that is mostly dark brown, with cream or white lateral stripes and a similarly-colored neckband.
Growing to a size of just several inches, Peninsula Stripeless Snakes have a white underside and it may actually be striped, despite its name.
A black mid-dorsal stripe is commonly seen on the snake.
A fossorial species, Peninsula Stripeless Snakes are non-venomous and can sometimes be mistaken for earthworms in their red nuance color variant.
23. Red-Black Striped Snake
Scientific name: Bothrophthalmus lineatus.
Common name: Red-Black Striped Snake.
Red-Black Striped Snakes are some of the most atypical red snakes by appearance.
They exhibit a dark red dominant color across the dorsum and the ventral side. This dark red nuance is further contrasted by black stripes across the dorsum.
Unlike with other species, its head also shows black interrupted stripes.
The head of the snake can have a different ground color, on the other hand. It can also have a dark red nuance but it may be white as well.
The white head morph of this red snake additionally features a gray-brown spot towards the snout and black stripes on the head.
A species endemic to Africa, the snake is nocturnal and rarely seen. It doesn’t have a venomous bite either.
24. Black-collared Snake
Scientific name: Drepanoides anomalus.
Common name: Black-collared Snake.
A species of South America, Black-collared Snakes can be mostly red, albeit coming in different morphs.
This species has a bright red or orange-red dominant color. This is a uniform color across its smooth dorsal scales.
Its head is mostly black with a black neck and a white neckband.
Its head can also be mostly white, with only its neck and snout tip being black.
The uniform nature of this coloring isn’t representative of all of its morphs as it can also be banded and mostly black.
A black morph with a combination of white and red bands is also characteristic of this species.
This is a variant with a bright head of white color with a gray snout.
25. Red Sand Boa
Scientific name: Eryx johnii.
Common name: John’s sand boa, Indian sand boa, erutaley nagam, mannoli pambu, red sand boa, brown sand boa.
A dark red-brown nuance is specific to Red Sand Boas. Known for their earth-red nuance, these types of snakes are endemic to India.
Many myths have surrounded the shape and appearance of the snake which has a wide tail that doesn’t taper as in most snake species.
Both its head and its tail are as wide as the body, without any taper.
Found in sandy areas, Red Sand Boas may also come in other dark colors. A brown morph is also common for the species.
While a thick-bodied snake, Red Sand Boas aren’t venomous or dangerous.
26. Black Cross-barred Kukri Snake
Scientific name: Oligodon cinereus.
Common name: Black Cross-barred Kukri Snake, Ashy Kukri Snake, Günther’s Kukri Snake.
Growing to 30 inches, Black Cross-barred Kukri Snakes have a red appearance.
Different red nuances are specific to these types of snakes. The head shows a brighter red nuance with a pink-red snout.
Its dorsum has a darker red nuance, often red-purple. Dark red or black specks are further distinguishable on its dorsum.
Additional morphs are also based on red. Black Cross-bared Kukris often have a red-brown nuance.
The species is found in multiple countries of Southeast Asia.
27. Gomes’ Burrowing Snake
Scientific name: Apostolepis cearensis.
Common name: Caatinga blackhead, Gomes’s burrowing snake.
A species of Eastern Brazil, Gomes’ Burrowing Snake is mostly red.
It features a bright red color, salmon-red, or orange-red coloring. Its head is black and white with an additional black neck.
Small red dots are further distinguished on its snout.
Unlike other mostly red snakes, Gomes’ Burrowing Snakes also show a black tail tip.
White or gray ventral colors are further specific to this Eastern Brazil native species.
Gome’s Burrowing Snake is found in different nuances, depending on its range and age. This is a species that has a bright red nuance when young as it slowly darkens with age.
The exposed areas between the scales tend to become dark with age as well.
28. Monk Snake
Scientific name: Suta monachus.
Common name: monk snake, hooded snake.
Red-brown nuances are specific to The Monk Snake. This is a species with earth-red nuances, often matching the appearance of the Australian soils it lives on.
Its head is typically black, also showing a red section around the mouth.
Some of its morphs additionally include a red stripe on its gray or black head while most snakes have a uniform top of the head.
Found in Northern Australian territories, the species is specialized in eating lizards.
It’s also one of the numerous venomous snakes in Australia. Its bite is painful and dangerous to humans but its venom is believed to be of a lesser risk compared to other snakes.
29. Jamaican Red Groundsnake
Scientific name: Hypsirhynchus callilaemus.
Common name: Jamaican red racer, Jamaican red racerlet, Jamaican red ground snake.
Growing to a size of just a few inches, Jamaican Red Groundsnakes are some of the smallest red snakes in the world.
Endemic to Jamaica, this is a species that spends most of its days on the ground or up on vegetation.
A diurnal species, The Jamaican Red is a snake with red-brown dominant coloring. Its red dorsal color is backed by a white underbelly and a gray or black head.
Jamaican Red Groudnsnakes also come in a brighter salmon-red nuance.
This snake morph comes with a white or gray head.
A rare striped Jamaican Red Groundsnake also exists. This morph is mostly dark red with several black stripes from head to tail.
It also has a black neck with a gradient from its black head.
Further Reading: