Know the differences between venomous and non venomous snakes

Snakes are scary. The thought of a snake nearby is enough to drive some people crazy. We all run from snakes because we fear their venomous bites. What if not all snake bites are venomous? If so, how can we identify a snake based on the differences between venomous and non venomous snakes? Read this article to satisfy your curiosity.

Differences between venomous and non venomous snakes

Head

Heads of Venomous snakes are mostly triangular (because their necks are broad) while the heads of non venomous snakes are more flattened than that of venomous ones.

Colour

Venomous snakes have bright colours. We could say pretty hurts. Non venomous snakes aren't as brightly coloured.

Heat-sensitive pit

Venomous snakes have a heat-sensitive pit between their eyes and nostrils. This pit is used to locate warm blooded animals like mammals. Non venomous snakes lack such pits. This is one of the major differences between venomous and non venomous snakes

Rattle

All rattlesnakes are venomous therefore, if you see a rattle or hear its sound, know that it's a venomous snake.

See the rattle at the end of its tail

Head scales

In venomous snakes, the scales on top of their heads are usually small. Non venomous snakes however have larger scales on top of their heads

Visibility while swimming

When venomous snakes swim, they're fully visible because they swim at the surface of the water. On the other hand, non venomous snakes swim partly or fully invisible because they swim deep.

Teeth

Venomous snakes have Fangs (Large Maxillary teeth with groves). you can identify fangs by seeing two long teeth in the front. Non venomous snakes lack fangs, their teeth are even and uniform. This is one of the major differences between venomous and non venomous snakes

Notice the two fangs

Bite marks

I just hope you've not been bitten by a snake. You could examine snake bitten animals though. The bite mark of venomous snakes look like twin punctures because of the fangs. Non venomous snakes' bite marks don't appear as two punctures.

Examples of venomous snakes

Black Mamba
King cobra
Eastern brown snake
Coastal taipan
Inland taipan
Many-branded krait
Tiger snake
Boomslang
Mamushi
E.t.c

Rattlesnake, Copper head, Cotton mouth and Coral snake

Examples of non venomous snakes

Northern water snake
Four-lined snake
Eastern garter snake
Emerald tree boa
Rough green snake
Bull snake
black rat snake
Milk snake
Python
Anaconda
E.t.c

Rough green snake

Now that you know some differences between venomous and non venomous snakes

So long as you aren't a zoologist, please stay clear from snakes. Don't go experimenting. Stay safe. View and share the photo below. It is a summarised list of differences.