While most snakes come in earthy tones like brown, black, and green, some snakes actually display bright and vibrant colors like red, yellow, and even pink. The question “are pink snakes real?” is a common one for those unfamiliar with the wide diversity seen in snakes around the world. The short answer is yes, pink snakes do exist in nature. However, they are quite rare and many claims of pink snake sightings actually turn out to be other animals or hoaxes.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the real pink snake species found globally, discuss some common myths and hoaxes, look at why pink snakes are so rare, and overview other notable brightly colored snakes that exist in the world. Read on to learn more about these unique reptiles and separate fact from fiction when it comes to the question of whether pink snakes are real.
Examples of Real Pink Snake Species
While uncommon, there are a handful of snake species in the world that regularly display varying shades of pink in their coloration:
Rosy Boa
The rosy boa is a small species of boa constrictor native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. They display a mix of deep pink, orange, and brown blotches across their scales, earning them the common name “rosy boa.” Their scientific name, Charina trivirgata, also references their three vibrant pink stripes. Rosy boas only reach 2-3 feet in length and are non-venomous constrictors that feed on small rodents and lizards. They are also popular as pets due to their small size and beautiful colors.
Amazon Tree Boa
Native to the Amazon rainforest in South America, the Amazon tree boa is an arboreal species that can grow to 6 feet in length. Their coloration consists of a bright orange-pink base with a pattern of darker triangular blotches along the length of their body. This is an excellent example of a truly pink snake species. Amazon tree boas are non-venomous constrictors that use their prehensile tails and anatomy to be adept climbers high up in rainforest trees. They prey predominantly on birds and small mammals.
Pink-Bellied Short-Necked Turtle
While not a true snake, the pink-bellied short-necked turtle has a very snake-like appearance and pink coloration. These small semi-aquatic turtles are found in still bodies of water across much of southeast Australia. As their name suggests, they have a vibrant pink underside and neck, while the top shell and head is brown or black. They reach only 5-6 inches in length. The pink belly is thought to act as camouflage when the turtle flips over and exposes the pink coloration that blends in against the reddish gum leaves that often cover the water’s surface.
Salmon Boa
Found in Colombia and Venezuela, the salmon boa is sometimes referred to as the “pink boa.” Individuals display coloration ranging from deep reddish-pink to orangey-pink. Like other boa species, the salmon boa is a non-venomous constrictor that eats small mammals. They reach lengths of 4-6 feet. Their vivid pink and orange coloration stands out against the dark forest floor of their tropical habitat.
| Species | Region | Length | Diet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rosy Boa | Southwestern US & Mexico | 2-3 feet | Rodents & lizards |
| Amazon Tree Boa | South America | Up to 6 feet | Birds & mammals |
| Pink-bellied Turtle | Southeast Australia | 5-6 inches | Insects & vegetation |
| Salmon Boa | Colombia & Venezuela | 4-6 feet | Small mammals |
Pink Snake Myths & Hoaxes
While the snake species above are very real examples of authentic pink snakes, there are also numerous reports and photos circulating on the internet that turn out to be misidentified animals, photoshopped images, or complete fabrications. Here are some common pink snake myths and hoaxes:
Plastic Toys
One of the most common sources for “pink snake” photos online are plastic toy snakes. Whether pink plastic snakes made as dog toys or pink rubber snakes from joke shops, photos of these clearly artificial snakes are often shared with sensational claims about discovering rare pink snakes. With a closer look, the plastic sheen and artificial look gives these away as obvious fakes.
Other Pink Animals
Many reports of pink snakes turn out to be other elongated pink animals such as legless lizards, amphisbaenians, caecilians, or even pink worms and caterpillars. All of these creatures lack the scaley skin and anatomical features specific to snakes. Cryptozoology hoaxes will sometimes use photos of these other creatures and claim evidence of unknown pink snake species.
Photoshopped Images
It doesn’t take much digital image editing skill to turn an ordinary photo of a snake into a pink colored serpent. Unfortunately, many viral photos of bright pink snakes shared online are crude Photoshops meant to garner attention and clicks. Applying a pink filter or hue shift to snake images is a dead giveaway that the image has been faked.
Mythical Creature Hoaxes
Some viral “pink snake” images are intentional cryptozoology hoaxes trying to spark interest in imaginary species. One example is the “pink anaconda” photos that circulated Brazil in 2018, which were admitted to be fake images portraying a mythical animal. Stories of rare or mythical pink snakes are often sensationalized clickbait with fabricated photos.
Applying basic skepticism and looking for signs of Photoshop manipulation are keys to separating fact from fiction when evaluating reports and images of exotic pink snakes online. They do exist, but the pink snakes in viral photos are far more likely to be hoaxes than real creatures.
Why Are Pink Snakes So Rare?
Given that over 3,000 snake species exist globally, it may seem strange that only a handful of known species exhibit pink coloration. There are two main reasons why pink snakes are so exceptionally rare:
Lack of Selective Advantage
Unlike camouflaging colors that help snakes blend into their environments, bright pink coloration offers no clear selective advantage. If anything, it may make snakes more visible to predators. With no environmental pressures favoring the development of pink, it simply never evolved in most lineages. The few pink snakes that exist are unique exceptions where pink coloration emerged as an outlier.
Dietary Pigments
The pink and reddish coloration of snakes like the rosy boa and Amazon tree boa are produced by pigments obtained through their diet. Animals cannot synthesize many pigment molecules on their own and must attain them through food sources. The availability of carotenoid and pteridine pigments that produce pinks and reds are exceptionally rare in most snake habitats, limiting their integration into snake scales and skin. This dietary scarcity greatly restricts pink coloration from developing.
Essentially, pink is an extremely unusual color in snakes that provides no camouflage value and relies on limited dietary pigments. With no evolutionary advantage, and rare access to pink pigments, the vast majority of snakes never evolved the capacity to develop pink coloration. That is what makes the few naturally pink snake species scattered around the world so remarkable.
Other Notable Brightly Colored Snakes
While pink snakes stand out as unusually vibrant reptiles, they are not the only snakes to display bright, garish coloration. Here are some other flashy colored snakes that exist in nature:
Red Milk Snake
As the name implies, red milk snakes have vivid red banding contrasted with white and black color sections. They are nonvenomous New World constrictors that can reach lengths of 3-4 feet. The bright banding acts as a warning signal and mimicry of dangerous Coral snake relatives who share their natural range.
Scarlet Kingsnake
Another red-banded species, scarlet kingsnakes display vibrant red blotches surrounded by black. Just like milksnakes, this acts as a mimcry of venomous Coral snakes found in the same regions of the American southeast and Mexico. They feed on rodents, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.
Green Tree Python
While coloration changes dramatically as they mature, green tree pythons earn their name from the bright lime green they exhibit as young adults. Found in tropical forests and mangroves of Australia and New Guinea, their green scales provide remarkably effective camouflage among foliage.
Blue Malaysian Coral Snake
One of the few snakes to display blue as a predominant color, the blue Malaysian coral snake has black-outlined blue bands over most of its body with a bright red head. Like other coral snakes, this Asian species is highly venomous. The blue and black pattern warns away predators.
| Species | Region | Length | Colors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Milk Snake | Americas | 3-4 feet | Red & white |
| Scarlet Kingsnake | Southeast US & Mexico | 2-4 feet | Red, black, & white |
| Green Tree Python | Australia & New Guinea | 5-6 feet | Green & yellow |
| Blue Malaysian Coral Snake | Southeast Asia | 3-4 feet | Blue, black, & red |
Conclusion
In summary, while truly pink snakes are exceedingly rare, a few brilliantly colored pink snake species do exist in nature, including the rosy boa, Amazon tree boa, and salmon boa. However, many sensational photos and stories of pink snakes turn out to be hoaxes or cases of mistaken identity. Pink offers no natural camouflage value for snakes, and dietary access to red and pink pigments is limited for most snake species. These factors result in very few snake lineages evolving pink coloration.
Beyond pink snakes, other snakes do display showy reds, blues, greens, and other vibrant colors, either as mimics of dangerous coral snakes or for effective camouflage. So while pink snakes are an unusual anomaly, snakes exhibiting other flashy colors are more common. The rarity of pink snakes makes the species that exhibit pink an exceptionally unique and vibrant reptile. When evaluating a claim of a pink snake sighting or photo, skepticism is warranted, but occasionally they do turn out to be genuine articles and examples of the wonder of natural variation.
