Coral Snakes: A Species Profile with Pictures and Bite Information

Coral snakes are among the most beautiful and one of the most venomous snakes in North America. Their striking red, yellow, and black banding makes them instantly recognizable, yet they remain one of the most misunderstood snake species. Despite their potent venom, coral snakes are shy, reclusive animals that pose far less risk to humans than many people assume.

Identifying Coral Snakes

Coral snakes have a distinctive color pattern of red, yellow (or white), and black bands that encircle their entire body. The most reliable way to identify a coral snake in North America is the order of the bands: red touches yellow. This is where the old saying comes from: “red touches yellow, kill a fellow; red touches black, friend of Jack.”

While this rhyme works for North American species, it doesn’t apply to coral snakes found in Central and South America, where color patterns can vary significantly. If you’re outside the United States, don’t rely on the rhyme for identification.

Several non venomous snake species mimic the coral snake’s coloring, including the scarlet king snake and the scarlet snake. These mimics have the same colors but in a different order (red touches black). This mimicry evolved to give these harmless snakes the protection of being mistaken for a venomous species.

Coral snakes are relatively small compared to other venomous snakes in the United States. Adults typically reach 20 to 30 inches in length, with the record being just over 4 feet. They have slender bodies, small heads that are barely wider than their neck, and round pupils (unlike the elliptical pupils of pit vipers).

Species Found in North America

Three species of coral snakes are found in the United States. The Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius) is the most common and ranges throughout the southeastern states from North Carolina to Florida and west to Texas and Louisiana.

The Texas coral snake (Micrurus tener) is found in Texas, Louisiana, and parts of Arkansas. It’s very similar in appearance to the Eastern coral snake and was previously considered the same species.

The Arizona coral snake (Micruroides euryxanthus) is found in southern Arizona and New Mexico. It’s the smallest of the three and is even more reclusive than its eastern relatives. Bites from this species are extremely rare.

Beyond North America, the coral snake family (Elapidae) includes dozens of species throughout Central and South America, making them one of the most widespread venomous snake groups in the Western Hemisphere.

Behavior and Habitat

Coral snakes are secretive, fossorial (burrowing) animals that spend most of their time hidden underground, under leaf litter, or beneath logs and rocks. You’re unlikely to encounter one unless you’re actively turning over debris or digging in their habitat.

They prefer forested areas, sandy soils, and habitats with plenty of ground cover. Pine flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, and areas near water are common habitats in the southeastern United States.

These snakes are most active during the cooler parts of the day, particularly early morning and late afternoon. In the hottest months, they become more nocturnal to avoid extreme temperatures. During winter in northern parts of their range, they brumate (the reptile equivalent of hibernation) in underground burrows.

Coral snakes are not aggressive and will almost always try to flee when encountered. They don’t strike in the quick, defensive manner of pit vipers. Instead, their bite is more of a chewing action, as they need to work their relatively small fangs into the skin to deliver venom effectively.

Venom and Bite Information

Coral snake venom is a potent neurotoxin that affects the nervous system, potentially causing respiratory failure if untreated. Their venom is actually more toxic drop for drop than the venom of most rattlesnakes. However, coral snakes deliver relatively small amounts of venom per bite.

Symptoms of a coral snake bite may not appear for several hours, which can give a false sense of security. Early symptoms can include numbness, tingling, and weakness around the bite site, progressing to slurred speech, double vision, difficulty swallowing, and eventually respiratory paralysis if untreated.

Any suspected coral snake bite should be treated as a medical emergency. Get to a hospital immediately, even if symptoms haven’t appeared yet. An antivenom exists for coral snake envenomation, though it’s been in limited supply in recent years.

Coral snake bites are extremely rare. These snakes have small mouths and fixed (non folding) fangs, which makes it difficult for them to bite through clothing or thick skin. Most bites occur when people try to pick up or handle coral snakes, which is obviously something you should never do.

Diet and Feeding

Coral snakes feed primarily on other snakes, including small non venomous species and even other coral snakes. This makes them ophiophagous (snake eating) predators. They also eat lizards, particularly small skinks and glass lizards that share their underground habitat.

Their neurotoxic venom is particularly effective against cold blooded prey. The venom quickly immobilizes other reptiles, allowing the coral snake to swallow its prey without a struggle. Their small size means they prey on correspondingly small animals.

Feeding behavior is similar to other elapid snakes. Coral snakes bite their prey, hold on, and chew to work venom into the wound. Once the prey is immobilized, they swallow it whole, head first.

Conservation

Coral snake populations face challenges from habitat loss, road mortality, and being killed out of fear by people who encounter them. Their secretive nature makes population estimates difficult, but some regional populations appear to be declining.

The best thing you can do for coral snakes is leave them alone if you encounter one. They play an important role in their ecosystem by controlling populations of other small reptiles. Educating yourself and others about the difference between coral snakes and harmless mimics also helps reduce unnecessary killing.

If you live in coral snake habitat, keep your yard clean of debris piles that attract the small reptiles coral snakes feed on. Wearing closed toe shoes and gloves when working in the garden or moving logs reduces the already small risk of an accidental encounter.