Eastern Coral Snake

Micrurus fulvius

Also called: coral snake, harlequin coral snake

A small, secretive, brightly ringed relative of cobras, found in the Southeast, with strong venom but a small mouth and a shy nature.

Diagram comparing the ring order of a coral snake, where red bands touch yellow bands, with a harmless lookalike, where red bands touch black bands — Simplified diagram of the ring order. Real snakes vary, so never rely on one rule or one picture to decide whether a snake is dangerous.

Kind: Venomous
Typical length: 2 to 3 feet
Range: The southeastern coastal plain from North Carolina to Florida and west to Louisiana and eastern Texas
Regions: Southeast
Habitat: Woods & forest, Grass & prairie
When active: Mostly spring and fall, often in the morning

Note: Coral snake venom acts on the nervous system and symptoms can be delayed for hours. Get emergency care for any bite, even if it looks minor.

How to identify it

Wide red and black rings are separated by narrower yellow rings, and the snout is black.
Red rings touch yellow rings. A common rhyme is 'red touches yellow, kill a fellow; red touches black, venom lack,' but it only works for North American species.
The head is small and rounded, not triangular, and the snake is slender.
It spends most of its time buried in leaf litter or underground.

Often confused with

Eastern Milk Snake: a harmless snake with blotches rather than full rings in the East; other harmless red-banded snakes exist farther south.
Scarlet Kingsnake: a harmless snake with the same colors, but red bands touch black bands and the snout is red.

If you meet one

Stop and look before you step. Check where your feet and hands will land, especially near logs, rocks, and brush.
Back away slowly and give the snake plenty of room, at least several body lengths. It wants to leave, not fight.
Do not try to kill, catch, move, or photograph it up close. Most bites happen to people doing exactly that, and a dead snake can still bite by reflex.

If someone is bitten

Move away from the snake and call 911 right away.
Keep the person calm and as still as possible. Take off rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
Keep the bitten area still and about level with the heart, and get the person to a hospital. Antivenom is the treatment.
Do not cut the bite, suck out venom, use a tourniquet, apply ice, or give alcohol. These make things worse.
In the U.S., Poison Help (1-800-222-1222) can advise while you wait for help. Do not wait to see whether symptoms develop.

Field notes

Coral snakes bite by chewing rather than striking, so many bites involve picking one up. Leave brightly ringed snakes alone, and never use the color rhyme to decide that a snake is safe to handle.

Related guides

This page is a general reference, not medical advice and not a substitute for identifying a real snake with an expert. Many snakes are protected by state law, and rules about killing or handling them vary, so check your state wildlife agency; our state resources directory links to each one. For any bite, get emergency care.

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