how we can distinguish between poisonous and non-poisonous snake?

Answer 1

The only way to really tell is to get to know all of the snakes. Here are some general ways to tell in The U.S.A. A coral snake (venomous) looks like a scarlet snake and a scarlet king snake (both non-venomous). All three have red, black and, yellow bands (sometimes white instead of yellow on the scarlet snake). If red and yellow bands are touching, it is a coral snake, if the red and yellow bands are not touching, then they are either a scarlet or a scarlet king. Usually a coral snakes nose or head is black as a scarlet or a scarlet king's is red (sometimes yellow. This only works for the Southeastern U.S. The further west you go, you will find more and more harmless species with red and yellow touching, such as the sand snake (there are others). The eyes of a coral snake have round pupils like most North American non-venomous species as opposed to the slit pupils of the dominant pit vipers. Coral snakes' heads and necks are of the same circumference, unlike all of the other venomous species in North America (which are pit vipers, and the coral snake is not a pit viper), which are either shaped like a diamond or a triangle and the neck is much smaller. However, many non-venomous snake have this characteristic as well. A hognose snake (harmless) can even form a hood and rear up much like a cobra (most people that don't know about where snakes live assume they are cobras), which are not a native of the Americas. Many non-venomous snakes shake their tails in dry leaves or other debris when they feel threatened, sounding much like a rattlesnake. Though not as thick as a rattlesnake, the markings may be quite similar. Therefore giving the impression that it is a rattlesnake. A pygmy rattlesnake's rattle is very small and you have to be very near to see it as it is pointed as well and not very loud, so people sometimes think they are small harmless snakes. I could go on and on about this, and the general rule follows for snakes all over the world, you can't be sure by the pupils or other characteristics unless you know the snakes in that area. What I recommend, is getting an Audubon Society's book on snakes of North America (if that is where you live). If so or not it also pays to browse book stores for regional field guides that offers pictures, descriptions, characteristics, and so on for snakes in your region. Like I said, even though there are ways to tell the regional difference between venomous and non-venomous, such as between coral snakes and scarlet snakes or scarlet kingsnakes, the only way to be 100% sure is to get to know your snakes. I have seen thousands of harmless snakes killed in eight countries by people assuming they were venomous. I have also been called to retreive well over a hundred supposed venomous snakes only to arrive and find a common water snake, a juvenile racer or rat snake, ring necked snakes and so on. Never once has one of these snakes been venomous. In general, venomous snakes are not as common as non-venomous snakes.

Answer 2

From your name, I suspect you have a lot more poisonous snakes around than the 5-6 we have in USA.
I think you just have to memorize them and treat any snake you are not sure of with caution, especially since there are non-poisonous snakes that have evolved to look like poisonous ones.

Answer 3

ok, when you come across any snake, pick it up, give it a good fling in the head, shake it! just give the snake a reason to bite you, You'll know if it is poisonous or non in about 7 to 8 minutes! Hope this clears up all of your question.

Answer 4

So what "Harshit s" is saying then is that my Red-tailed boa is poisonous or more correctly put, venomous? I don't see her having a flat tail in fact its very pointed. And as far as I know they are NOT venomous. Cannot agree with him there!

Anyway, its hard to tell which are venomous and which are not. Like others have said, best thing to do is to start off by getting familiar with the snakes around your area and then branch off from there. The more you know the safer you'll be and also know what to do if ever in a confrontation with one.

Answer 5

Know the snakes in your area. In most parts of the world, there are only a few snakes to worry about in your immediate location. Learn the key characteristics of them, and you are good.

Every other 'rule' has too many exceptions- the diamond-shaped head (venomous snakes, and all boas and pythons), coloration patterns (really hard to track!), cat eyes (some venomous, and all nocturnal snakes), etc.

If you are in the US, find out your snakes by googling "(your state) snakes".

Answer 6

Red and black venom lack
Red and yellow Kill a fellow

Of course that only works on species with those colors. Rattle snakes dont have red at all so they dont fall into that catagory.

Also not all snakes that can kill you have poison.

The best thing to do is either learn the snakes of your region or avoid them all together.

Answer 7

education. Learn which snakes are in your area and which of them are poisonous and which are not.

Answer 8

tail of poisonous snake is pointed is pointed
every sea snake is poisonous
tail of non poisonous is flat as compared to poisonous ones
every land snake is not poisonous
most poisonous snake is black maamba it is found in north america

Answer 9

check the snake for a label

Answer 10

Assume they are all poisonous!!!




*hates snakes*