The coral snake, with its distinctive bands of red, yellow and black, is a venomous species found in North and South America. The spelling of "coral snake" is fairly straightforward, but there are a few nuances to note. The first syllable is stressed, and the "o" is pronounced like the "a" in "father" (IPA symbol æ). The second syllable is unstressed and pronounced with a schwa sound (ə). The final syllable is pronounced with a long "a" (eɪ).
A coral snake is a venomous snake belonging to the family Elapidae, typically found in tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas. It is characterized by its distinctive bright coloration, featuring alternating rings of red, yellow, and black scales along its body. The coral snake is highly venomous, possessing a venom that is neurotoxic and can potentially be fatal if left untreated.
With an average length of about 2-4 feet, the coral snake has a slender body and a small, slightly flattened head. It is primarily nocturnal and spends most of its time hidden in leaf litter or loose soil. Due to its relatively reclusive nature and secretive habits, coral snakes are not commonly encountered or encountered accidentally by humans. However, when provoked or threatened, they may display a defensive behavior by coiling their body and raising the tail, exposing the brightly colored scales as a warning sign.
The venom of coral snakes is highly potent and acts primarily on the nervous system, causing paralysis and respiratory failure if not promptly treated. It possesses fixed fangs located in the front of its mouth, which enable it to deliver venom through a chewing motion. Despite the severity of their venom, coral snakes are not typically aggressive and will generally only bite if they feel threatened or cornered.
Coral snakes are often mistaken for nonvenomous snakes such as the milk snake or the scarlet king snake, due to their similar color patterns. However, a useful mnemonic to differentiate a coral snake from nonvenomous lookalikes is the phrase, "Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, venom lack." This phrase refers to the order of colors on the snake's body, with red touching yellow indicating a venomous coral snake, while red touching black signifies a nonvenom
The word "coral snake" has an interesting etymology. The term originated from the Old French word "corail", which was derived from the Latin word "corallium". This Latin term, in turn, came from the Ancient Greek word "korallion", referring to a hard, red precious stone, typically identified as coral. The Old French "corail" was used to describe both the gemstone and the marine animal resembling it.
The "snake" part of the term "coral snake" is self-explanatory, as it refers to the reptile genus known as snakes. Therefore, when combined, "coral snake" refers to a specific type of snake that shares a visual resemblance to the vibrant colors of coral.