coral snake
The coral snake is a small, venomous snake found primarily in the Americas, particularly in the southern United States, Mexico, and Central America. It is known for its distinctive coloration, featuring bright red, yellow, and black bands. These colors serve as a warning to potential predators about its toxicity. Coral snakes belong to the family Elapidae, which also includes other venomous snakes like the cobra and mamba.
Coral snakes are generally shy and prefer to avoid human contact. They inhabit a variety of environments, including forests, grasslands, and deserts. Unlike many other snakes, coral snakes have a fixed fang structure that allows them to inject venom into their prey, which primarily consists of small reptiles and amphibians. Their venom is potent, but bites to humans are rare due to their reclusive nature.