One thing all rattlesnakes have in common is a tail that makes a rattling sound when the snake … For the bottom of the tail, right behind the anus, the pattern should be the same with the rest of its belly if it's a venomous snake. There are 32 different types of rattlesnakes, all with their own identifying features. How Can You Tell If a Snake Is Poisonous. A harmless snake the same length would be much more slender and would have a much longer, thinner tail (see below). well, if u c a bright color of a snake, yes it's poisonous. Of the poisonous snakes, the coral snake is the only round-pupil snake. The coral snake … There is this confusion that they are venomous, and it all comes from the fact that they are much alike like the moccasin snakes, which are poisonous. Copper Head Snakes and Water Snakes Copperhead snake (Photo: Michale McCarthy, Flicker sharing) Identification of the venomous copperhead snake and the harmless northern banded water snake. Best ways to tell watersnakes and Water Moccasins apart: 1. A defining difference in whether or not a water snake is poisonous is the way it swims. Double rows are for non-venomous. A non-poisonous snake will swim with its body submerged, with its head popped up from the water line. Venomous snakes in the U.S. are known as pit vipers—meaning they have a pit between their eye and nostril on the sides of their head. Non-venomous one has a … Water snakes, for example, come in both varieties, but only poisonous snakes will swim with their entire bodies visible on the water. When a poisonous snake like the cottonmouth rests on the water, its body stays afloat. If you do encounter a snake with any of the features listed above, keep a safe distance away. Therefore, you need to make sure that you can tell the difference between the two. The pit helps them to sense warm-blooded prey without seeing it. Several different snake species live in the wetlands, ponds and rivers of the southeastern United States. There is one snake that is the exception to many of the above rules. Non poisonous snakes typically have long, slender bodies and vertical heads, though some non poisonous king and garden snakes can grow quite thick. Rattlesnakes are the most common type of poisonous snake, and can be found all over the United States. This one is probably hardest to find out, so do it only if the snake is dead, unless you have a really good eye. In the swamps of southern Texas, conservationist Coyote Peterson captured a venomous water moccasin and a non-venomous banded water snake, comparing them side-by-side to show how to distinguish one from the other.The snakes can appear very similar, but the differences between them could potentially be deadly. The cottonmouth swims with its entire body floating above the water while the harmless water snakes let out only its head above the water. More snakebites happen when someone tries to move the snake, instead of simply leaving it alone and walking away. Research extensively to understand how to easily tell if a snake is poisonous from a distance or not, especially if you live in areas where snakes are common. A coral snake is deadly, so you don’t ever want to mess with it in case you encounter one in the wild. Poisonous snake eyes have vertical, cat-eye slits for pupils instead of the round ones found on non venomous snakes. THICK, HEAVY BODIES: Venomous Water Moccasins have bodies that are VERY thick and heavy for their length, and short, thick tails. Other non-venomous snakes have borrowed its looks, the most popular one being the milk snake. Fortunately, water snakes are not poisonous! For water snakes, venomous ones would usually skim the top, entire body visible on the surface. Eastern Coral Snakes : “ Red on Yellow, Kill a Fellow … A poisonous snake will skim along the top of the water. Even a non-poisonous snake can feel threatened enough to cause it to bite. It’s best to always be safe and assume a snake is venomous unless you’re absolutely sure it isn’t. This is because venomous snakes swim with their lungs inflated, whereas a harmless water snake will swim with its body submerged. When non-poisonous water snakes stop swimming to examine their surroundings, their bodies slip beneath the water. One of these is the venomous cottonmouth—also known as the water moccasin. When you see a snake in the water, but only its head is showing, it is more than likely not a water moccasin or other poisonous snake. BODY SIZE. Behavior can also indicate poisonous or non-poisonous.