Deadly or Harmless? 6 Ways to Spot a Poisonous Snake

By: Amir Sohil August 16, 2025

Head Shape

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Eye Shape

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Color Patterns

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Tail & Behavior

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Presence of Fangs

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Deadly or Harmless? 6 Ways to Spot a Poisonous Snake

Head Shape

Poisonous snakes usually have a wide, triangle-shaped head because of their venom glands, while non-poisonous snakes mostly have a slim, narrow head

Eye Shape

Many venomous snakes have cat-like vertical slit pupils, while harmless snakes usually have round pupils.

Color Patterns

Many snakes with bright, contrasting colors or bold band patterns are using warning coloration to tell predators, “I’m venomous or dangerous—better

Tail & Behavior

Some poisonous snakes have short, thick tails and may hiss loudly, flatten their body, or lift their head to scare off threats.

Presence of Fangs

Venomous snakes have long, hollow or grooved fangs in their upper jaw, which you can see when they open their mouth or strike.