How can the Eastern Coral snake be identified?
Multi-colored rings encircle its body with red, black and yellow bands. Every other band is yellow. Red bands touch yellow bands. The nose is black. The pupils are round. Teeth are small (see bite pattern diagram). It does NOT have large fangs like pit vipers. The head is the same width as the rest of the body and does NOT have a large head like pit vipers. The average size is about two feet long. Although the color pattern is usually as described, some variations have been reported. It is imperative to consider the possibility of coral snake with any snake that might be similar.
