Identifying Red and Black Snake Species

You might spot this vibrantly colored ring-necked snake slithering along the East Coast and Midwest. Michael Benard / Shutterstock

In North America and other parts of the world, you may encounter a red and black snake along your hike and wonder if you're dealing with a venomous snake species or something like a harmless milk snake.

It's a valid point to ponder; many species have evolved similar color patterns in order to denote their status as venomous or nonvenomous snakes. Here, we'll go over some red and black snake species and give you an idea of how cautious you should be around them.

3 Red and Black Snakes

Here are some of the most commonly encountered snakes of the red-and-black variety.

1. Black Swamp Snake

Rather than featuring multicolored bands along its body, the black swamp snake is completely black along the top of its body, with red-orange colored scales on its underbelly.

This species is usually found in Florida and grows up to about 15 inches (38 cm), coiling up to about the size of a human hand. These snakes are nonvenomous and completely harmless to humans.

2. Ring-necked Snake (Diadophis punctatus)

The ring-necked snake bears a resemblance to the black swamp snake, with a dark grey back and brightly colored red or yellow underbelly — but it also has a colored ring around its neck, which is clearly where its name comes from.

Ring-necked snakes prowl the forest floors all along the east coast and into the midwest, feeding on worms and other small critters. A toxin its saliva paralyzes prey, but bites afflicted on humans are rare and would likely be about as painful as a bee sting.

3. Red-bellied Black Snake (Pseudechis porphyriacus)

Red bellied black snakes look very similar to both the black swamp snake and the ring-necked snake. This species, however, is only found in wetlands on the east coast of Australia.

These Australian snakes carry a mild venom which they use to subdue small prey. They generally avoid conflict with humans but may bite when accidentally disturbed. Over time, the venom can cause symptoms like wound swelling, nausea, vomiting, headache and abdominal pain.

3 Red, Black and Yellow Snakes

1. Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius)

Aside from pit viper species, the eastern coral snake is one of the most dangerous venomous snakes in North America, with habitats that occupy the sandy soil in grasslands and swamps of the southeastern regions of the United States.

Like many other American species, the coral snake features yellow, red and black bands across its body

However, unlike most other species, the yellow and black bands touch each other, thus harkening back to the classic rhyme, "Black touches yellow, kill a fellow." Coral snakes are related to cobras and pack a potentially deadly neurotoxin in their fangs, so you should never attempt to handle or disturb one in its habitat.

2. Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum)

Milk snake varieties can be found all over North America. They like to hide away in cramped spaces like mammal burrows or barns, which is how the snake got its name.

Some subspecies of milk snake are dull grey or brown in color, but others feature multicolored bands like coral snakes. If you look closely, you'll see that the red bands touch the black bands.

No matter which subspecies you spot, the milk snake is one of the most harmless snakes you might encounter in the wild, and they are often kept as pets. They only eat small prey like mice, and their bites are generally too weak to even pierce human skin.

3. Scarlet King Snake (Lampropeltis elapsoides)

The scarlet king snake is a medium-sized snake that bears an uncanny resemblance to banded varieties of milk snake, with red and black bands touching. However, they are now considered separate species.

The scarlet king snake can be found under logs and bark in the pine forests of the east coast, using its constrictor muscles to catch other snakes, lizards and rodents. Bites to humans are rare and typically harmless.

Identifying Snakes With Rhyming

When it comes to identifying snakes out in the wild, you may have heard this popular but morose rhyme: "Red touches yellow, kill a fellow. Red touches black, you're ok, Jack." This rhyme refers to the black bands, red bands and yellow bands that can be found along the bodies of many snake species in North America.

If the yellow bands are adjacent to the red bands, you're likely looking at a venomous coral snake, and should give it some distance, but if red touches black, then it could be one of several nonvenomous species.

It's also worth noting that desert venomous snakes like the pit viper and rattlesnake tend to feature brown bodies rather than the multicolored banding of wetland and forest varieties.

Lastly, you may have noticed that this rhyme mentioned "red touches yellow" and the one earlier in the article mentioned "black touches yellow." It turns out these rhymes are far from foolproof when it comes to snake identification. You're best off leaving the snake alone, regardless of its coloration.

What to Do After a Venomous Snake Encounter

If you are bitten by a venomous snake, contact the nearest medical professionals. Hospitals frequently stock vials of antivenom for local snake species. Administering antivenom as quickly as possible will help stop the spread of toxins and leave you with much milder symptoms. It could potentially even save your life.

While you're waiting for the professionals to arrive, wash the wound with clean water — and soap, if available — and apply a clean bandage. Take off any tight jewelry that could increase blood pressure and sit or lay down in a cool area. This will help slow the spread of venom throughout the body.