Coral snakes are poisonous snakes marked with bands of red, black, and yellow or white. These markings warn other animals that the snake is dangerous. The short, hollow fangs of coral snakes deliver a powerful venom that attacks the nervous system and can be deadly to human beings.

Where coral snakes live

About 65 kinds of coral snakes live in North and South America. They inhabit an area from the southern United States to central Argentina. Coral snakes live in a variety of places, including grasslands, rocky hillsides, tropical forests, and deserts.

Physical features

The bodies of coral snakes are made for burrowing, and they have narrow heads and slender bodies with long, pointed tails. Most coral snakes measure less than 3 feet (0.9 meter) long, but some South American varieties can grow longer than 4 feet (1.2 meters).

The eastern coral snake lives from the southeastern United States to northeastern Mexico. It has a black snout and narrow yellow bands separating wide bands of red and black. A few poisonous snakes in Africa, Australia, Asia are also known as coral snakes, but their coloring and markings vary and include stripes and spots.

Behavior

Coral snakes remain hidden most of the time, but they do come out to prowl and feed on other snakes and small lizards. When threatened, they may hide their heads in their coils and curl up their tails to look like heads. Some coral snakes respond to danger by making jerky movements or trying to bite. Others expel air from an opening called the vent, which makes a popping or gurgling sound.

Female coral snakes bury their eggs in leaves or other material. After hatching, the snakes use their rounded snouts to burrow in animal tunnels, decaying logs and leaves, and under rocks.