checkered adder
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A nonvenomous North American snake: The "checkered adder" is a common name for a species of kingsnake (Lampropeltis triangulum or Lampropeltis elapsoides). It is characterized by its tan and brown coloration, often with a distinctive arrow-shaped mark on the top of its head. Some regional variations, particularly in the southeastern United States, have red banding that resembles the pattern of the venomous coral snake, which is an example of Batesian mimicry.
Usage Notes
- The term "checkered adder" is a regional common name and is considered informal. The more precise and scientific names are milk snake or scarlet kingsnake (for the southeastern red-striped variant).
- Despite the word "adder" in its name, this snake is not venomous. "Adder" is sometimes used colloquially for various snakes.
- It is important for identification and safety to learn the distinguishing features (like the order of colored bands) between the nonvenomous checkered adder/milk snake and the venomous coral snake.
Examples
- Noun:
- While hiking, we saw a checkered adder slithering across the path.
- The checkered adder is often mistaken for a coral snake due to its similar red, black, and yellow bands in some regions.
- Herpetologists note that the checkered adder is a constrictor, not a venomous adder.
Advanced Usage
- The checkered adder is a classic example in biology of Batesian mimicry, where a harmless species evolves to imitate the warning signals of a harmful species to deter predators.
Variants and Related Words
- Milk snake (n): The more widely accepted common name for .
- Scarlet kingsnake (n): A common name for the red, black, and yellow banded subspecies () often called the checkered adder in the southeastern U.S.
- Kingsnake (n): The broader genus () to which this snake belongs.
- Lampropeltis triangulum (n): The primary scientific binomial name.
Synonyms
- Milk snake
- Scarlet kingsnake (for the southeastern variant)
- (Regional) Spotted adder, house snake
Related Phrases/Idioms
- "Red touch yellow, kill a fellow; red touch black, friend of Jack.": This is a common mnemonic rhyme used in North America to help distinguish the venomous coral snake (red bands touching yellow bands) from its nonvenomous mimics like the checkered adder/milk snake (red bands touching black bands). Note: This rhyme only applies to North American species.
Noun
- nonvenomous tan and brown king snake with an arrow-shaped occipital spot; southeastern ones have red stripes like coral snakes