Kinds of Coral Snakes

The coral snake is a venomous type of snake that many people fear, rightfully so. Several types of coral snake exist throughout the world, some more dangerous than others. Regardless of the type of snake, all possess small, upright fangs and should be treated with great caution. Although the introduction of antivenin has resulted in a significant decrease in coral snake bite fatalities, the symptoms of a bite alone can be very frightening.

  1. Eastern Coral Snake

    • The eastern coral snake lives throughout the southeastern United States, especially in North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, southern Georgia and Florida. Other names for this type of coral snake include the American cobra and the common coral Snake. It is a relatively small breed of coral snake, typically measuring under 31 inches in length, and is characterized by its narrow yellow body rings that separate its wider red and black rings. Its prey includes frogs, lizards and other smaller snakes. Two documented fatalities occurred during the 1950s that were attributed to eastern coral snake bites. Since the introduction of Wyeth antivenin in the 1960s, only one further fatality has been reported. Very few people in the United States are ever bitten by this snake because it tends to be very reluctant to bite human beings. Although an adult snake possesses enough venom to kill between four and five adult humans, it cannot release all of its venom with one bite and,only an estimated 40 percent of bites result in any venom being released at all.

    Western Coral Snake

    • The western coral snake lives in central and southern Arizona, as well as in New Mexico and Sinaloa in Mexico. Other names for this snake include the Arizona coral snake and the Sonoran coral snake. It ranges from 13 to 21 inches in length and is recognized by its broad, alternating red and black body bands that are separated by narrower white or yellow bands. Its diet consists mostly of black-headed and blind snakes. It will also occasionally eat lizards and other small snakes. The makeup of its venom is similar to that of a cobra snake. However, it poses less danger to humans than a cobra due to its small size, small mouth and small fangs that make for less overall venom and a less effective means of injecting venom into humans.

    Texas Coral Snake

    • The Texas coral snake gets its name from its prevalence in Texas. It is also found in additional states throughout the southern U.S., including Louisiana and Arkansas, as well as in several states in Mexico. It is between 23 1/2 and 39 1/2 inches in length and is recognizable by its wide red and black body rings that are separated by narrower yellow rings, all of which completely encircle the snake's body. Prior to the introduction of antivenin in the 1960s, approximately 10 percent of bites by this snake resulted in death, primarily due to cardiovascular or respiratory failure. No further fatalities have been reported since. Symptoms of a Texas coral snake bite include difficulty speaking, difficulty swallowing, droopy eyelids, tremors, fixed pupils and respiratory depression; symptoms often do not appear until about 12 hours following the bite.

    Many-Banded Coral Snake

    • The many-banded coral snake dwells in Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua. It is among the more slender variations of coral snake and reaches between 29 1/2 and 35 1/2 inches in body length. It is characterized by between 40 and 73 black body rings that are separated by lighter colored rings of varying colors, including pink, orange, red, cream and white with black specks. It possesses a rather nervous temperament and bites when disturbed. Little is known about its venom, and most human bites occur on a toe or finger due to its small mouth, typically while the human is trying to capture or touch the snake.