Image of Lampropeltis triangulum annulata (Kennicott 1861)

Description:

This was a 2005 photograph taken of a harmless milk snake, Lampropeltis triangulum annulata, which is very similar in coloration to its more deadly venomous counterpart, the Texas coral snake, Micrurus tener, (see PHIL# 8141). The similarity in coloration to the Texas coral snake, and the fact that the habitats of these snakes includes hurricane-prone regions of the United States, makes the ability to accurately distinguish these two reptiles from one another extremely important for those living in, or first-responders to these areas after a weather-related disaster.
Created: 2005