Different Types of Snakes in America
A snake is a legless reptile that is entirely covered with scales. The species range in size from being as small as 4.1 inches to as huge as 6.95 meters. Snakes can live in a variety of habitats. You may find them living in trees or even in water. Most of them dwell on land and can also burrow. All snakes are carnivorous and prey on other living beings, but according to my sources, this does not mean that all of them are poisonous.
Snakes usually eat birds, rodents, frogs and other reptiles. They have a forked tongue that helps them pick up a scent and target the prey. Once they capture their prey, they hold it between their rear-facing teeth to prevent it from escaping. Snakes have an ability to eat an organism thrice their size because their jaws can completely detach from each other. [2]
Most species of snakes are not aggressive but most of them are notorious for attacking humans. Venous snakes can not only hurt their prey with teeth but can also inject their poison or venom through fangs into the body, killing the prey in a matter of minutes.
Almost 3000 species of snakes have been identified all across the world. [3] In America, both friendly and dangerous snakes can be found. Depending on the region, the habit and behaviors of these snakes may vary. Some of them are shy and rarely come out of their hiding place while others live within human settlements and often have encounters with people.
Following are some of the most common types of snakes you can come across in America:
- Kingsnakes
Commonly found in North America, this type of snakes consists of smooth, shiny scales. They are further subdivided into many categories including California kingsnake and milk snakes. They are usually non-poisonous and named so because they prey on their own species. These snakes are slender and usually, range from 0.6 to 1 meter in size.
- Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake
This particular type of snake is one of the most dangerous and has a high fatality rate of about 10 to 20 percent. This predator usually hunts rabbits but can attack humans upon encountering them. The venom of Eastern Diamondback is said to be so poisonous that it immediately induces hemorrhaging. The venom further contains some specific peptides that can trigger cardiac problems, eventually leading to fatality.
- Coral Snakes
Coral snakes are highly venomous and can cause neurotoxicity in humans. Most commonly occurring in North America, these snakes are bright in color and have red and black stripes on their bodies.
These snakes are unable to inject their venom in one go and may require some time to fully release it. If you are unfortunate enough to be bitten by one of these species, hospitalization is recommended.
Symptoms usually take a whole day to fully manifest, but the progression is quite rapid. While the natural instinct would be to avoid any snake with such bright coloring, milk snakes, also common in the US, have very similar coloring yet are non-venomous. For identification, remember the rhyme ‘black on yellow will kill a fellow, black on red, venom they lack’.
- Copperhead Snakes
A bite of cottonmouth snake can be harmful to humans. This species is not usually aggressive and rarely bites. However, when it feels threatened, this kind of snake follows a “freeze” strategy and uses the camouflage technique to hide in the surroundings.
This makes it easier for you to step on it and provoke it to bite you. Copperhead snakes are unique in a way that they do not inject venom into your body during their defensive strikes. However, you may get injured by the attack and require hospitalization.
5. Garter Snakes
The garter snake is one of the most common snakes found in North America and has a variety of colorings and markings but is typically identified by its long thin stripe down the back. The typically grow only to a few feet and are non-venomous to humans.
Because Garter snakes live in colder states, they hibernate in winter by searching out nooks and crannies and will often be found hibernating in warmer outbuildings and barns, often in large numbers for warmth.
