Coral Groundsnake Tierrera coral (Atractus elaps) harmless

This is not a "coralsnake" in that it is not a venomous elapid snake like our US "Coralsnakes". The red next to yellow "rule" 1. only works in the US, except that it only works some of the time in some areas of the US. Some harmless snakes are red/yellow/black and have the red-against -yellow patterns. 2. only works some of the time in the US. Coralsnakes, like all other living species, are variable. I have seen coralsnakes that were almost solid black, had no black pigment at all, or had no yellow bands at all. Color is only reliable for identification if you don't mind being wrong some of the time, and in that case what's the point of the rule?

Anyone living or playing outside the concrete jungle in Tx should learn to id the 4 venomous snakes indigenous to Tx because there are so many different kinds that are harmless. Two are easy. Coral will never be confused with others if you remember "red touch black,friend of Jack,red touch yellow kill a fellow". Rattler,,,,,,,,,you will know him when you see him,nuff said. That leave's Copperhead and Cottonmouth which have hundreds of look alikes. Unlike imposters,both have elliptical eye pupils like a cat. If you have someone show you pits in both their heads and lack of in imposters,that will help also. BTW,most Texans call all large harmless species "chicken snakes"but that's because so few know the proper names.

Harmless Midland Ratsnake (juvenile).