Poisonous snakes can be found in most parts of the world, but how can you tell the difference between venomous and non-venomous snakes? They don’t exactly come equipped with warnings signs – or do they? If you know what to look for, you can identify a poisonous snake out the wild and know whether it’s time to run for cover, or breathe a sigh of relief. We’re going to look at venomous snakes around the world and give you tips on how to identify these creatures.
Table of Contents
- How to Identify a Venomous Snake
- 1. Consider Color Patterns
- 2. Look at the Head Shape
- 3. Does it Have a Rattle?
- 4. Does the Snake Have a Heat Pit?
- 5. Be on the Lookout for Mimics
- 6. Look at the Eyes
- 7. Look for a Heat-Sensing Pit Between the Eyes and Nostrils
- 8. Notice the Underside Scales on the Tip of the Tail
- 9. Look at the Bottom of the Tail
- 10. Watch Water Snakes Swim
- 11. Examine the Bite Marks in Case of a Snake Attack
- Knowing the Exceptions
- Venomous Snakes from Other Countries
- Summary
How to Identify a Venomous Snake
Knowing the four venomous snakes in the United States is helpful – if you live there, or are traveling there. But if you’re in any other part of the world, you may not know what to look or what types of snakes are poisonous.
Venomous snakes are different in their own ways, but do share some general characterisitics that can help you decide whether you’re face-to-face with a deadly foe.
1. Consider Color Patterns
Many creatures in nature have what we call “warning colors” to let us know that they are dangerous. This same theory applies to poisonous snakes. Many species have bright colors that warn us to stay away.
The deadly coral snake, for example, has red and yellow bands, which are two colors we associate with danger or caution. The copperhead snake is copper or red in color.
Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, and some brightly-colored snakes are absolutely harmless. But generally speaking, snakes of one color are not venomous.
2. Look at the Head Shape
Poisonous snakes usually have triangular heads, while non-venomous snakes usually have round heads. The triangular shape is caused by the venom glands. Some harmless snakes can flatten their heads as a defensive mechanism, which can make their heads look triangular. And some species of coral snakes may have rounded heads because their venom glands are less noticeable.
3. Does it Have a Rattle?
Rattlesnakes account for most snakebite injuries in North America, so if you happen to be in that neck of the woods, be on the lookout for a rattle at the end of the tail.
But don’t rely on the rattle alone when trying to identify a rattlesnake. These snakes develop their rattles as they shed their skin, and add on a new row of rattles with each shed. Younger poisonous snakes don’t have rattles, but they can be just as dangerous.
Sometimes, the rattle can wear away over time, so an older poisonous snake may not have a rattle either.
4. Does the Snake Have a Heat Pit?
Many venomous species of snakes belong to the pit viper family, which means they have heat-sensing pits on their heads. These pits help them detect and follow prey by sensing heat.
Not all venomous snakes are pit vipers, however. The coral snake doesn’t belong to this family and doesn’t have a heat-sensing pit. But it’s still a highly dangerous snake with a potentially fatal bite.
5. Be on the Lookout for Mimics
Some harmless species of snakes will mimic the patterns of venmous snakes to keep predators away. This smart tactic can help the species survive, but can also cause more humans to kill these non-venomous snakes. Non-venomous king and milk snakes look a lot like coral snakes. Rat snakes look like rattlesnakes.
The safe option is to treat every snake like it’s a venomous snake. Don’t try to handle it or get too close. Don’t kill snakes either unless in self-defense. Killing non-venomous snakes just allows the venomous snake population and the rodent population to grow.
6. Look at the Eyes
Many species of venomous snakes have vertical pupils that look like cat eyes. Round pupils are most commonly seen in non-venomous snakes.
7. Look for a Heat-Sensing Pit Between the Eyes and Nostrils
The heat sensing pit we talked about earlier can be found between the eyes and nostrils of a snake.
Remember, non-venomous snakes will not have these pits.
8. Notice the Underside Scales on the Tip of the Tail
The scales on the underside of the snake’s tail can help you tell whether the snake is venomous or harmless. Most species of venomous snakes have a single row of scales under the tail, whle non-venomous snakes usually have two.
9. Look at the Bottom of the Tail
If you can see the bottom of the snake’s tail, you may be able to tell whether it’s poisonous. Do not pick up the snake under any circumstances. With poisonous snakes, the bottom of the tail looks the same as the rest of the underbelly. If the snake has a diamond shape (or cross) pattern under its tail, it’s probably harmless. You probably won’t be able to check the bottom of the snake’s tail (not safely) unless it’s dead or hanging from a tree.
10. Watch Water Snakes Swim
There are both venomous and non-venomous species of water snakes. Only the venomous kind swims with its entire body visible on the water.
11. Examine the Bite Marks in Case of a Snake Attack
If you do happen to get bit by a snake, the bite marks may be able to tell you whether it was a venomous species.
A ragged bite mark usually indicates that the snake doesn’t have fangs, which means it’s not venomous.
But if you have two closely-set bite marks, it means the snake has fangs and is venomous.
Knowing the Exceptions
Just like anything else in life, there are exceptions to the venomous snake rules above.
Head Shapes Aren’t Always a Tell-Tale Sign
Most venomous snakes have triangular heads, but not all do. The coral snake has a round-shaped head, but is highly venomous and potentially deadly if the bite isn’t treated immediately. Also, some snakes may flatten their heads, which makes them look triangular, but they’re non-venomous.
Colorful Snakes are Sometimes Non-Venomous
Many species of venomous snakes are colorful, but there are some that are just black or brown. Other colorful species are completely harmless. The scarlet king snake, the scarlet snake, the red milk snake and the corn snake are all brightly colored but non-venomous. Some poisonous water snakes are almost entirely black.
Venomous Snakes Sometimes Have Round Pupils
Average venomous snakes have vertical pupils that look similar to a cat’s eye. But there are some venomous creatures that have round pupils, such as the inland taipan, the black mamba and the cobra.
Venomous Snakes from Other Countries
So far, we’ve focused mainly on venomous snakes in North America, but there are deadly species in other parts of the world, too. Let’s take a closer look at venomous snakes in other countries.
1. Snakes in the UK
The Dangerous Adder
The adder, or common viper, is common in the UK, but is mostly found in the southern region of the nation.
These snakes have distinctive X- or V-shaped markings on their heads. They also have vertical pupils and zigzag stripes on their backs.
The adder’s dark patches range from blue to gray and black. Its background color is usually gray, but can also be red or brown.
Adder bites aren’t usually fatal, but they do require immediate medical attention. Thankfully, these snakes aren’t aggressive unless they’re disturbed or threatened.
2. Snakes in India
India is home to a few species of venomous snakes, including:
The Common Cobra
Associated with snake charmers and snakes in a basket, the cobra is a dangerous snake. If you’re unlucky enough to get bitten by one, you’ll need to seek medical attention immediately.
The cobra’s potent venom is responsible for many deaths in India each year.
Cobras vary in size, from three to six feet in length. They have broad heads and can spread their hoods as a warning sign to stay away. Their colors can vary greatly depending on which part of India you’re in.
Cobras in northern India are usually black or dark brown, while cobras in southern India are usually brown or yellow.
While these creatures are usually shy and would prefer not to bite, the cobra can strike repeatedly and with extreme precision.
Common Krait
The krait snake is a large snake that can grow between four and six feet long. Like many other venomous snakes, the krait’s head is slightly broader than its neck. It has a depressed head with round snout. Its eyes are entirely black and small in size.
The krait’s color pattern is one of its most distinctive features. This snake’s body is black with white bands, and its scales are hexagonal.
Kraits prefer to hunt at night, and this is when they’re most aggressive. But if you happen to catch one out during the day, they tend to be more docile.
Russel’s Viper
The Russel’s viper snake is highly venomous and will whistle like a pressure cooker as a warning before it strikes. If you happen to get bit by one of these snakes, you’ll need to seek medical attention right away.
Russel’s vipers have triangular heads with two triangular spots. Its eyes have vertical pupils, and its tongue is dark purple.
The snake’s body has three rows of eye-shaped spots that are either black or brown in color.
Saw-Scaled Viper
One of the most common vipers in India, the saw-scaled viper varies in size (15″ to 30″ long) and comes in a variety of colors, from gray to red or dark brown.
These snakes are extremely aggressive if they’re provoked, so stay far away if you see one. When they feel threatened, these snakes will make a saw-like sound by rubbing their scales together.
This species has one the quickest strikes in the world.
3. Snakes in Australia
Australia is home to some of the deadliest snakes in the world. Two of the most dangerous include:
Fierce Snake
Also known as the Taipan, the Fierce snake is known as the most deadly snake on the planet. It has the most potent venom of any snake species, but here’s a surprising fact: there are no recorded deaths by this snake.
The Fierce snake can grow to be more than six feet long, and its color can vary from light straw to dark brown. Its color grows darker in the winter and lighter in the summer. The head of this snake can look black.
The Fierce snake can be found in the black soil plains near Queensland.
Eastern Brown Snake
The eastern brown snake causes the most snakebite deaths in Australia. These snakes would rather slither away than attack, but they will stand their ground if provoked.
This species of snake can grow to be six feet long, and can vary in color from dark brown to tan or gray. They have slender bellies with dark orange spots.
Not surprisingly, the eastern brown snake is found in eastern Australia. They live in woodland, grasslands and pastures.
If you happen to be bitten by one of these snakes, seek medical attention immediately.
Summary
Venomous snakes are highly dangerous creatures, but even with snake skin identification, it can be hard to tell whether the snake is poisonous until it’s too late. Snake experts recommend leaving any and all snakes you meet in the wild alone. And if you happen to have snakes in your yard or home, it’s best not to set a snake trap yourself and leave extermination to the experts.