how can we tell if a snake is poisonous?

Answer 1

Most of the "ways" to tell, shape of the head, colors, eyes etc... are pretty unreliable. Some venomous snakes don't exhibit these features, and some nonvenomous ones do. The ONLY sure way to tell is to research snakes in your area and make sure you know what venomous snakes you may come across, as well as being able to identify the nonvenomous ones. Identifying species is really the only way. If you aren't 100% sure what a snake is, leave it alone!

Edit: People, not ALL venomous snakes have these characteristics. True, most venomous snakes in North America are pit vipers, and they DO have elliptical (cat like) pupils, but when you get into the Elapid family (coral snakes, as well as cobras etc...) this is not the case. Besides, if you get close enough to a venomous snake to get a good look at the eyes, you're already too close;-)

Answer 2

Ok here's the real answer. You can tell 5 different ways.
1. The snake has cat eyes. (vertical up and pupils)
2. The head is shaped like a triangle (this is not full proof though)
3. At the very end of the underneath the belly poisonous snakes have Nonvenomous snakes underbelly scales are divided where as venomous are undevided.
4. Pits as well as nostrils are present
5. And the most obvious is if it rattles don't touch!
Hope this helps!!

Answer 3

An easy method of telling the difference between a venomous or poisonous versus a non-poisonous snake is to look at the shape of the pupil. Non-poisonous snakes all have a round pupil (in the center of the eye) whereas all poisonous snakes have a vertical elliptical (cat-like) shaped pupil. All pit-vipers (poisonous) also have a small hole (pit) between the nostril and the eye.

Answer 4

This depends on where you live. If you live in the US, there are basically four types of venomous snakes; the rattlesnakes with the obvious rattle, the copperheads with rather distinctive coppery color, the water mocassins that resemble the copperheads when young but may mature into a heavy-bodied dull brown or black colored snake but always with a wide head. The coral snakes are the most colorful and are banded red, yellow and black...remember an old saying....red touch yellow...kill a fellow....red touch black...good for Jack as there are coral snake mimics. In other countries, it is less easy to identify venomous snakes and in Australia, even many small snakes are poisonous but not really dangerous....depends on where you live

Answer 5

If you're not sure leave the snake alone. There are only four types of venomous snakes in America. Rattlesnakes Those are easy to identify they have rattles, copperheads, cotton mouths and coral snakes. Coral snakes are pretty easily identified. They have alternating bands of red yellow and black from head to tail. Some harmless kingsnakes also have a similar pattern and can be confused with the venomous coral snakes. The easiest way to tell the difference is to look at the bands. If the yellow bands are touching red bands it is a coral snake. If the red bands are touching black bands it's a harmless kingsnake. That's where the saying
"Red touch yellow can kill a fellow. Red touch black friend of Jack" comes from

Here are some pictures of the venomous snake species in the USA

http://www.kingsnake.com/snakegetters/snakephotos.html
http://www.kingsnake.com/snakegetters/snake.html

Answer 6

Usually Vipers (poisonous snakes) have a TRIANGLE shaped head. I don't like to get close enough to see that, but....
All snakes will bite, even non-poisonous ones if they feel threatened. Be careful!
Also, check books and such to see what snakes are native to the area you live.

Answer 7

Venomous snake tend to have a triangular heads but the easyiest way to find out is by milking it."milking is when u find a snake and have a special cup 4 milking than u make the snake bit that cup and draw out veom if its poisonous

Answer 8

A snake with a diamond shaped head and/or slitted eyes (ones that look like a cat's eyes) is poisonous.

The previous answerer who mentioned black next to red being ok, and black next to yellow being poisonous was referring to one species of snake that mimics a poisonous snake as a defense mechanism and was correct. (Milk snake ok, coral snake poisonous)

Answer 9

find somebody to put their finger in his mouth
have the snake bite them
then if they get sick the snake is poisonous

Answer 10

The color of the snake but the head has alot to do with it there 2 kinds of heads