Even though coral snakes deliver some of the most toxic venom in the world, they are considered much less dangerous than other species of snakes.
Here are a few reasons they are considered less dangerous than other snakes.
- Their venom delivery method is less effective than other snakes.
- Their bright color pattern makes them less easily camouflaged.
- They are less populous than other species of snakes.
- They are less aggressive than many other snake species.
How Dangerous Is A Coral Snake?
When you look at some of the deadliest snakes in the world, coral snakes rank near the top.
But how dangerous is a coral snake really?
In this article I will answer the following questions.
- How likely are you to be bitten by coral snake?
- Where and how do they hunt?
- How do they strike?
- Are coral snakes aggressive?
- Are juveniles deadlier than adults?
- What kind of venom do they have?
- How fast does the venom take to act?
- What is the mortality rate for people who are bitten?
It’s important to note that there are “Old World” coral snakes and “New World” coral snakes.
Old World coral snakes are from Asia and can be found in areas such as India, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and other such places.
New World coral snakes are typically the classic red, yellow and black banded snakes found throughout the Americas.
These are the snakes that this article is referring to.
How Likely Are You To Be Bitten By A Coral Snake?
Coral snakes are burrowing snakes.
They spend much of their time below ground or underneath leaf litter, and usually only come out during heavy rains and during mating season which is in the spring or early summer.
These snakes are fairly shy and elusive, preferring to run and hide rather than face a threat. They are also nocturnal which reduces the chance of encountering one.
Less than 1% of all snake bites reported in the U.S. come from coral snakes.
Part of the reason for this is their small, fixed fangs.
Coral snakes have small mouths and small fangs which can’t always penetrate human skin. Clothing makes this even more challenging for the snake, if not impossible for things like shoes.
The combination of these factors make it highly unlikely that you would ever be seriously bitten by a coral snake, and reduces their danger to most people.
Where And How Do Coral Snakes Hunt?
The diet of coral snakes is made up mostly of other snakes, frogs and lizards.
They prefer to hunt at night and in the early morning hours.
These snakes are not ambush hunters. They do not sit in one place and wait for prey to come to them.
Instead, coral snakes are active hunters. They slither through leaf and debris piles, poking around and looking for food.
How Do Coral Snakes Bite?
Unlike vipers which have hinged fangs that spring forward during an attack, and fold neatly inside of the mouth when relaxed, coral snakes have small fixed fangs.
They are related to cobras which also have fixed fangs in the front of their mouth that always stay in place.
Their venom glands, and the muscles that squeeze them are also different from other venomous snake species.
Rather than unleashing a torrent of venom in a bite, these snakes need to latch on and then work the venom into their victims.
They do this by making a chewing motion with their jaws which squeezes the venom gland and allows it to ooze in.
This is another reason coral snakes aren’t considered too dangerous despite having some of the most toxic venom in the world. A single bite rarely injects enough venom to be harmful.
Are Coral Snakes Aggressive?
Coral snakes are not considered aggressive.
The fact that they are highly venomous however, means you should never handle one without proper training and protection. They should be treated with extreme caution.
There are two leading causes for the majority of coral snake bites.
The first is if they are stepped on.
From a snakes point of view, their life is in danger if they are stepped on and they will react accordingly…they’ll bite!
The second, and possibly biggest, cause of coral snake bites is handling.
Picking up or handling a coral snake greatly increases the chance that you will be bitten by one. Kind of obvious isn’t it? Don’t touch them and they won’t bite you!
Absent those two things, the likelihood of you ever being bitten by a coral snake is near zero.
These snakes are very mild mannered. They prefer to just go about their business, hunting for food or seeking shelter. These snakes prefer to retreat from any threats when confronted.
Their danger lies with the potency of their venom, not their aggressiveness. They just aren’t very aggressive.
Are Juvenile Coral Snakes More Dangerous Than Adults?
Juvenile coral snakes are actually less dangerous than their adult counterparts.
Their mouths are smaller and their fangs are shorter, meaning they have a lesser chance of actually being able to deliver a venom filled bite.
Additionally, they are smaller overall which means they have less venom to begin with.
What Kind Of Venom Do Coral Snakes Have?
Have you ever heard of cobras, mambas or sea snakes?
They’re known for being pretty deadly right?
Well coral snakes are in the same family. The Elapidae family. Many of these snakes have some of the most toxic venom in the world.
Coral snakes produce a neurotoxic venom that can cause paralysis and respiratory failure.
How Fast Does The Venom Take To Act
Coral snake venom is slower acting than many other snake species.
Unlike viper bites which can cause necrosis and other tissue damage, a bite from a coral snake may not cause any swelling or discoloration.
It typically takes several hours before the venom takes effect, although reported cases of only 2-3 hours are known. It may also take up to around 13 hours before serious signs begin to manifest.
What Is The Mortality Rate For People Who Are Bitten?
There have only been two people in the U.S. die from a coral snake bite since 1967 when antivenom for this species was first produced.
One was a small child, and one was an adult who did not seek medical treatment.
The current mortality rate is nearly zero. Prior to antivenom, the mortality rate for coral snake bites was estimated to be around 10-20%
Additional Facts And Conclusion
Why are coral snakes considered one of the deadliest snakes in the world if the mortality rate is so low?
The truth is, they are considered to be extremely toxic because it only takes 2-3 mg to kill an adult human.
Here’s the thing though, the average adult coral snake only has around 12mg of venom in its glands, and the average bite can be as little as 1mg.
That is of course if its fangs penetrate your skin, and it has time to chew the venom into you.
These snakes have the POTENTIAL to be extremely dangerous, but in reality you are in very little danger from a coral snake.