364 Bulletin 83 



Annulated Snake {Sibon scf^feiitrionalis) and has been reported from 

 the southern part of the State. It is probably not at all common. 

 It is rather slender, about two and a half feet long, and its poison 

 fangs are in the back of the mouth, hence they do not injure by 

 striking. If provoked into seizing a finger so ss to imbed the fangs 

 the results would be severe, though perhaps not fatal. Ditmars 

 calls it "dangerous, but not deadly." 



The only other poisonous snake to be found here is the bril- 

 liantly colored Sonoran Coral Snake {Blaps eury.vanthus) . This 

 slender little snake, seldom above two feet in length and often 

 shorter, is found in central and southern Arizona. It is marked 

 with black, yellow, and red bands encircling the body, the black 

 always bordered on both sides by the yellow. This snake is dangerous 

 if given a good opportunity, though on account of its small size it is 

 hardly dangerous save when stepped on barefoot or handled, the 

 latter being sometimes done under the impression that it is a harm- 

 less snake. Relatively to its size its fangs are as long as those of 

 some other exceedingly dangerous snakes, but actually they are 

 not large enough to penetrate a fair covering of clothing. It seizes 

 without warning and cJiews to imbed the fangs, but does not strike 

 as does the rattlesnake and is said never to bite save when actually 

 touched. Its poison, however, is more virulent, drop for drop, than 

 that of the rattlesnake. Deaths from the bites of larger species of 

 the same genus (Blaps) often occur in South America, and it is 

 related to some of the most deadly snakes known. Its small size 

 and resemblance to certain harmless snakes has led to an under- 

 rating of its true character. 

 Note the following distinctions : 



Black-yellow-red-yellow-black, Coral Snake. 



Yellow always betzveen black and red. 



Red-black-yellow-black-red, harmless King and Milk Snakes. 



Black always beti^'ecn red and yellow. 



Since potassium permanganate is a specific destroyer of all 

 snake venoms, treatment for a bite of the Coral Snake or other 

 poisonous species would be the same as for rattlesnake bites. It 

 may be stated most emphatically in this connection that the popular 

 impressions regarding easy distinctions between poisonous and 

 non-poisonous snakes, such as the large, angular head like that of a 

 rattlesnake for poisonous species, and the small rounded head for 

 harmless species ; or brilliant colors as in the king and milk snakes 

 for harmless species, do not hold. The Coral Snake alone violates 



