Coral Snake

Photographs of a coral snake and a milk snake.

Coral snakes are found in tropical regions of North America and are often confused with nonpoisonous (nonvenomous) milk snakes because they look similar.

Coral snakes have red bands with yellow rings on either side. Milk snakes have red bands with black rings on either side. Some people learn the difference by memorizing a short rhyme: "Red on yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, venom lack."

Coral snake source: NASA John C. Stennis Space Center

Milk snake source: U.S.G.S. Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine, Envenomation Specialist

Current as ofNovember 20, 2017

Current as of: November 20, 2017

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Sean P. Bush, MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine, Envenomation Specialist