Is this a deadly Coral Snake? How do you know?
Great job! This is a California Mountain Kingsnake that we spotted while hiking in Kings Canyon National Park. You got the colors right. In Coral Snakes, the red bands are directly touching the yellow bands. There are quite a few harmless snakes that mimic their color banding, but all of them have black bands between the red and yellow bands.
Why do Coral Snakes have their bright colors? While camouflage helps in surprising prey, there is a bigger advantage in warning potential predators that the snake is very dangerous. While its venom is dangerous, by the time the snake bites an attacking predator, the snake could be seriously injured. Advertising that you are dangerous helps prevent that attack before it happens. Other animals mimic dangerous ones to help protect themselves, allowing harmless animals to avoid predators too.
Saying
I heard the saying - Red next to yellow can kill a fellow.
Souvik, age 14
another saying
Well i learned from a very nice scientist here in New York called Mr. Byss. He told us, red on yellow, your a dead fellow, red on black, your OK Jack.
Isaac Smith 12
New York
Saying
It is not a coral snake. Me and my parents believe it to be a king snake. There is an old saying, red touches yellow, it'll kill a fellow.Meaning that it is a coral snake ,and deadly at that. If red touches black, it friend ok Jack. Which means it is and entirely different snake!
Ashby, age 13
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