[4] The specific name, aesculapii, refers to Aesculapius, the Greek mythological god of medicine, who is depicted with a snake-entwined staff.

The genus Erythrolamprus belongs to the subfamily Dipsadinae, which is sometimes referred to as the family Dipsadidae.

[8] E. aesculapii is often found in the leaf litter or burrowing in the soil in rain forests,[4] at altitudes from sea level to 2,300 m (7,500 ft).

[1] E. aesculapii feeds mainly on other snakes, including venomous species.

[8] The brightly colored, ringed patterns of snakes of the genus Erythrolamprus resemble those of sympatric coral snakes of the genus Micrurus, and it has been suggested that this is due to mimicry.