Coral Snake vs King Snake

On a sunny day, the thrill of a hike takes an unexpected turn when a vibrantly colored snake crosses your path. The pulse quickens, and the mind races – is this a deadly encounter with a venomous coral snake or a harmless brush with a king snake? The answer could pivot the situation from a frantic emergency to a simple sigh of relief. Let’s embark on an exploration into how to unravel this reptilian riddle.

Credit: Wolfgang Wuster (left),  David Pfennig (right)

Coral Snake vs King Snake: Key Differences

Coral and King snakes can be differentiated based on their color coding, venom type, size, and their habitat.

Color Coding

Color serves as a key differentiator between a coral snake and a king snake. Both these snakes love to sport the same tri-color pattern – red, black, and yellow. But here’s the catch, they wear them differently.

King snakes always have their red and black bands touching. It’s like they’re saying, “Red next to black, we’ve got your back!” They flaunt their smooth, glossy scales with confidence, knowing they pose no threat to humans.

On the other hand, coral snakes follow a different color rule. Their red and yellow bands are always side by side. It’s nature’s way of saying, “Red touch yellow, dangerous fellow!” So, if you see a snake with this color arrangement, it’s wise to maintain your distance.

Venom

Venom is another key difference between the two snakes. This is where the real difference lies. Coral snakes are the bad boys of the snake world. They carry the second most potent venom of any snake globally. This venom targets the brain’s control over muscles, leading to slurred speech, paralysis, and in extreme cases, even death.

In contrast, king snakes are the gentle giants of the snake kingdom. They don’t have any venom at all! If a king snake bites, thanks to their tiny, cone-shaped teeth, you might not even feel a thing. It’s like getting a surprise pinch during a game of tag!

Size and Habitat

Size is another factor that sets these two apart. King snakes are generally longer than coral snakes, reaching lengths between 24 and 72 inches. In contrast, coral snakes usually measure between 18 and 20 inches.

As for their hangout spots, king snakes are primarily found in North America, specifically Mexico. They enjoy diverse habitats such as grasslands, river valleys, deserts, and forests. Coral snakes, however, prefer to chill in Asia and the Americas, favoring forested and wooded areas where they live buried underground in leaf piles. But, just to keep us on our toes, some coral snakes also inhabit desert areas.

We’ll explore these differences and exciting facts about these two snakes below.

Coral Snake

Dressed in vibrant hues and armed with potent venom, coral snakes are both mesmerizing and threatening. Coral snakes are large snakes that live in both Asia and the Americas. There are 16 different species of coral snake in Asia and around 65 species in the Americas. Their claim to fame is their highly toxic venom, capable of causing paralysis and even death.

How to Recognize a Coral Snake? 

The easiest way to recognize a coral snake is its color pattern. A common mnemonic, “red touch yellow, kill a fellow,” is commonly used to remember that coral snakes almost always have red and yellow bands touching. 

This color arrangement sets them apart from the non-poisonous king snakes, which sport red and black bands side by side. However, nature loves exceptions, and there are some types of coral snakes that flaunt different color patterns.

Coral snakes have round heads and pupils and short teeth instead of fangs. If someone is bitten by a coral snake, it can be hard to remove them from the skin.

Habitat 

In the US, coral snakes are primarily found in the southern range in temperate areas. It’s not uncommon to find them from North Carolina, all the way south to Louisiana and Florida.

Coral snakes are fans of forested habitats, but their living preferences don’t stop there. Another species of coral snake has been spotted as far east as Arizona and New Mexico, residing in deserted areas and low rocky mountain slopes.

These snakes live in deserted areas and low rocky mountain slopes. Unfortunately, habitat is one of the least dependable ways to tell coral and king snakes apart, as coral snakes can be found everywhere, from grasslands to farmland, deserts, woods, and semiarid regions. 

Diet 

Coral snakes primarily live on a diet of smaller snakes, lizards, skinks, and even other coral snakes (although the latter is rare). They’ve also been known to eat frogs and eggs.

Are Coral Snakes Dangerous?

Yes, coral snakes are incredibly dangerous to humans. They have one of the most potent venoms of any North American snake and are sometimes regarded as the second most deadly snake in the world. But there are relatively few bites in recorded history due to the fact that these snakes tend to live away from population centers or in areas where very few people live.

There are around 20 coral snake bites in the US every year. They also have very short fangs, making it harder for these dangerous snakes to penetrate clothing or shoes. About 25% of bites don’t cause serious poisoning. But if you are bit by a coral snake, you should seek immediate medical attention.

It’s important to remember that although most coral snakes share the same color pattern, not every coral snake is red, black, or yellow.

Coral Snake Venom 

If you get bit by a coral snake, you may experience everything from: 

• Dizziness
• Paralysis
• Nausea 
• Respiratory issues 
• Extreme pain 
• Slurred speech 
• Death

King Snake

The King snake effortlessly combines grandeur and gentleness. These large, non-venomous snakes are native to the Americas and boast an impressive diversity with around 45 recognized species. Their size and color can vary significantly, with some snakes growing as long as 24” or even 60” and exhibiting colors ranging from muted browns or reds to yellows and even lavenders.

Recognizing a king snake is all about understanding their color patterns and remembering a simple mnemonic device – “red on black, a friend of Jack.” This phrase helps distinguish king snakes from their venomous counterparts, the coral snakes, which follow the rule, “red on yellow, kill a fellow.”

Some of the many king snake species are: 

• Mexican milk snake
• Prairie king snake
• Scarlet king snake 
• Short-tailed snake 
• Central plains milk snake 
• Common king snake 

How to Recognize a King Snake? 

King snakes also have the potential to grow far larger than coral snakes, adding another distinguishing feature. However, nature loves variety, and there are different types of king snakes, each sporting unique color patterns. For instance, the eastern king snake showcases a striking black-and-white pattern.

Habitat 

King snakes predominantly reside in North America, spanning across the United States and Mexico.

They are versatile dwellers and can be found in diverse habitats, from tropical forests to deserts. This adaptability makes it challenging to distinguish between a king snake and a coral snake based solely on habitat.

Diet 

When it comes to food, king snakes aren’t fussy eaters. Their menu includes everything from eggs to birds, rodents, lizards, and even other snakes.

Interestingly, they’ve been known to dine on rattlesnakes, leading scientists to believe that they are immune to the venom of other snakes. King snakes employ constriction, a method where they squeeze their prey to death, as their hunting strategy.

Are King Snakes Dangerous? 

Despite their intimidating size, king snakes pose no danger to humans. They are not venomous, and their small teeth are unlikely to penetrate clothing or shoes. So, if you encounter a king snake during your adventures, there’s no need for alarm!

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