Eastern Coral Snake
VenomousMicrurus fulvius · also called American cobra, harlequin coral snake
The eastern coral snake is North America's only widespread elapid — a relative of cobras and mambas — and its venom works quite differently from a pit viper's. It is secretive, spends most of its time under leaf litter and debris, and bites are rare. Almost every 'coral snake' reported is a harmless scarlet kingsnake or milk snake.
Before anything else
- Back away and leave it alone. A snake that can see you leaving has no reason to bite. Most bites in the United States happen to people who picked up, cornered, or tried to kill a snake.
- Never handle a snake to identify it. Every identification on this site can be made from a photo or from several feet away.
- If someone is bitten, call emergency services now. Keep the limb still and below the heart, remove rings and watches, and go to hospital. Do not cut, suck, apply ice, or use a tourniquet — all of these make outcomes worse.
- Do not try to catch the snake for identification. A photo from a distance is enough, and hospitals treat symptoms rather than species.
In the US, the Poison Help line is 1-800-222-1222. This site is a reference, not medical advice.
Quick facts
- Venom
- Potent neurotoxic venom. Symptoms can be delayed by many hours and then progress rapidly to breathing difficulty, so any suspected coral snake bite requires immediate hospital assessment regardless of how minor it looks. Never handle a small ringed snake to check which species it is.
- Adult length
- 20–30 inches (51–76 cm)
- Markings
- Broad red and black rings separated by narrow yellow rings, all of which wrap completely around the body. Red rings touch yellow rings. The snout is solid black back to just behind the eyes.
- Habitat
- woods, grassland, suburban
- Family
- coral snake
- Range
- 7 US states
How to identify a eastern coral snake
- Rings go all the way around the body, including the belly. Milk and scarlet kingsnakes have blotches that stop at the belly or a pale belly.
- Red rings touch yellow rings.
- Solid black snout. Scarlet kingsnakes and scarlet snakes have red snouts.
- Small head no wider than the neck, with round pupils — unlike a pit viper.
What it does when it sees you
Reclusive and mostly found under logs, boards and leaf litter, or moving in the open after rain. It does not strike from a coil; bites usually involve a chewing grip and almost always happen when someone picks the snake up.
What the eastern coral snake is confused with
One test settles each of these.
On a scarlet kingsnake the red bands touch black bands, and the snout is red. On a coral snake red touches yellow and the snout is black.
Milk snakes have red-brown saddles outlined in black on a grey ground, not complete rings, and a chequered belly.
Scarlet snakes have a red snout, a plain white belly, and blotches that do not wrap around the body.