The difference between venomous snakes and non-venomous snakes

Many people do not know the difference between venomous snakes and non-venomous snakes, so when they are in the wild, if they encounter a snake that is likely to be venomous, they will think it is a non-venomous snake. Non-venomous snakes are very easy to distinguish, both from their appearance and from their fangs. Most venomous snakes will hold their heads high, looking very ferocious.

How to identify poisonous snakes and non-poisonous snakes? Most people only know how to identify poisonous snakes and non-poisonous snakes.

It is not comprehensive enough to distinguish them by whether the head is triangular, the tail is short and thick, or the color is bright. Although the head of venomous snakes is a distinct triangle, some venomous snakes do not have a triangular head; while among non-venomous snakes, the false pit viper has a triangular head. The tails of five-step snakes, belly snakes and cobras are indeed very thick, but the tail of the iron-headed snake is relatively slender; many brightly colored snakes, such as the jade-spotted rat snake and the fire chain snake, are not venomous snakes, and the color of the pit viper is like mud or dog shit, which is not very eye-catching, but it is very poisonous. Therefore, the distinction between venomous and non-venomous snakes is mainly based on the following points:

Venomous snakes have venom glands, while non-venomous snakes do not. Venom glands evolved from salivary glands. Located on both sides of the head, behind the eyes, hidden in the jaw muscles, and can secrete venom. When a venomous snake bites something, the muscles surrounding the venom gland contract, and the venom is injected into the body of the bitten object through the venom duct and the tube or groove of the fangs, causing poisoning. Non-venomous snakes do not have this function.

2. The venom duct is a pipe that transports venom, connecting between the venom gland and the fang. Only venomous snakes have venom ducts.

3. Venomous snakes have fangs, which are located in front of or behind the non-venomous teeth on the upper jaw and are longer and larger than the non-venomous teeth.

There are several non-venomous snakes that are often mistaken for poisonous snakes. Because of their special appearance, bright colors, and ferocious temperament, they are often regarded as poisonous snakes by some local people and cause panic. In fact, these snakes are harmless to humans when they bite. Such as the tiger-striped colubrid snake (also known as the pheasant snake), the red-banded snake (also known as the fire red-banded snake), etc.

The non-venomous snake, the yellow-banded snake (also called the yellow-red banded snake), is easily confused with venomous snakes due to its appearance or color spots. It is often mistaken for the Bungarus bungeus because of the black and yellow horizontal stripes on its back; the black-backed white-banded snake is also easily mistaken for the Bungarus multicinctus because of the black and white horizontal stripes on its back; the neck-ribbed snake (also called the false pit viper) has a thick body and a short tail, a brown back with two rows of thick dark brown spots, and a slightly triangular head. It looks very much like a pit viper or viper; the green green snake (also called the green bamboo snake) is often confused with the bamboo green snake because it is green all over.