Scarlet kingsnake or coral snake? Keep an eye on the colors

Scarlet Kingsnake with its "red touches black" - Photo: Still Gravity.
Scarlet kingsnake with its "red touches black".

The scarlet kingsnake looks like the dangerous coral snake. Same color palette, different color pattern. The look is deceiving because the scarlet is not venomous. Another case of batesian mimicry. The animal is saying, "get away and leave me alone or... " Just a colorful bluff. 

To identify the coral from the scarlet, memorize the old saying:
  • If red touches yellow, kill a fellow = coral snake = venomous.
  • If red touches black - like in our picture -, venom lacks = scarlet kingsnake = nonvenomous.
For extra safety, leave all snakes alone. There was a case of mistaken identity in Alabama and a coral bit someone - read this article.

The Navajo says, 


There is nothing as eloquent as a rattlesnake's tail.


But these snakes don't have a rattle. Keep the eyes open. 

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