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Snake! Is it Venomous?

Comparing the venomous coral snake to similar non-venomous species

Remember the rhyme:

Red on black - venom lack (or friend of Jack); Red on yellow - kill a fellow

It's just a rhyme, however it is an accurate way to quickly tell a venomous coral snake from a harmless, non-venomous member of a similar species. Another way to tell is that the color rings on the coral snake go all the way around the snake, the underside looks like the top. This is not seen in similar species, their rings are only on top. Don't attempt to determine species using this method - it means you are too close!

Texas coral snakes are extremely shy and non-aggressive. Although their mouths are smaller than most venomous snakes, they can still inflict a serious bite if handled. Coral snakes eat mostly other snakes and small reptiles and are members of the same family of snakes as the cobras of India.