Does Red and Yellow Actually Kill a Fellow?

Dilanka Ilangasinghe

During our class trip to Llela, the topic of snake colors came up. A fellow student had brought up the old rhyme that goes “red and yellow kill a fellow; red and black friend of jack”; it has many people questioning if this is true, myself included. The rhyme was created +75 years ago, and it applies only when differentiating between coral snakes (venomous) and scarlet king snakes (non-venomous) in the United States. 
There are three potential patterns that you can come across; each pattern includes the colors red, black, and yellow. Though throughout time, the combinations of the colors become less and less distinct, causing the need for the rhyme. Coral snakes live in Texas, Arizona, and the east coast, and their venom is the second most deadly. The body of coral snakes range from 18 to 36 inches, and their width can be similar to that of a pencil. They live in the forest, jungle, marshes, and sandhills, and they like to burrow in leaves, sand, soil, and rocks. This breed of snake is common in the fall and spring seasons and have also been spotted near suburban areas. Coral snakes eat lizards, frogs, and other snakes. Old World and New World coral snakes make up the species—Old World means Asia and the New World means the Americas. The New World coral snakes are considered to be more venomous, and the catchy rhyme does not include the Old World snakes. The rhyme was originally meant for people who lived east of the Mississippi River; however, red and yellow does kill a fellow for all coral snakes that live in America.

                  
Like I mentioned before, not all snakes fit this rule. The Sonoran Shovel-nosed snake is harmless, but its red and yellow banding makes it vulnerable to humans who want to kill it. Another exception is when snakes have a condition called melanism, which causes it to be majority black. Coral snakes can also have this and albinism, which is when they lack color. In these cases, the saying will not save you from potential death. But what actually happens when a coral snake bits you? Well, there have been no deaths since the 60s because of an antivenin that was created. Despite this, left untreated, a person can go into cardiac arrest.
 How do you know if a snake, which is not a coral snake, is venomous? There are four ways you can use to identify the dangerousness of a certain snake. The first one is to pay attention to the behavior and habitat. For example, copperheads like to live near forests and rivers. Coloring is also used, but you need to use caution when using this trick. The shape of snakes’ heads is a clear indicator of their potential danger. Triangular-shaped heads are fatal, while rounded-shaped heads are not. If a snakes eye has a thin and black vertical pupil, then it is poisonous. 

Does this change your outlook on snakes? Are you still going to use the rhyme as a guide? Which out of the four ways do you think is the most useful? Personally, I will still keep my interactions with snakes to a minimum. 

Sources:


Comments

Anonymous said…
As a rule, I generally prefer to avoid snakes of all kind, not because I fear them, but because I have no faith in any rhymes that differentiate similarly-colored venomous and non-venomous snakes. Furthermore, if the snakes require differentiation, I see no reason to approach either way. Whether red and yellow kill a fellow or not, people as a rule should just avoid snakes that even have the slightest potential for venom, so there’s no chance at all for anything to happen. So, no, my opinion on snakes has not been changed, nor will it ever, especially not on the basis of a rhyme.
October 21, 2019 at 1:33 PM
Anonymous said…
I didn’t even know the rhyme to begin with, but knowing the background of rhymes is always fun. Regardless, I’ll just circumvent the whole scenario by not approaching snakes to begin with. I have a decent fear of large snakes, or at least as much of the average person, so I see no real reason to mess with and/or irritate a snake. My opinion therefore isn’t much different regardless of the rhyme, as in a stare down with a snake I will likely do the same thing I would’ve done before: get out of there asap.
October 21, 2019 at 8:48 PM
Urvi Vallapareddy said…
This is really interesting! I think this rhyme is pretty dangerous to simply characterize all snakes. I think the fact that this rhyme is so old is also a red flag that people should not rely on this anymore. Since natural selection occurs it would be in people's best interest to probably google the snake or maybe post about it in Flower Mound Cares. I would personally just dip either way. This rhyme was probably great for people to quickly remember and recognize dangerous snakes, but using the rhyme as a principle to this day is a mistake. -Urvi Vallapareddy
October 22, 2019 at 1:28 PM
Anonymous said…
If I crossed paths with a snake in the wild, disturbing it's peaceful path I wouldn't stop to look at the colors in the first place. Though I do believe that this rhyme wouldn't always reliable, because if you got bitten by a non venomous snake you just opened a new portal of entry where bacteria form the snake could enter. Plus either bite wouldn't be pleasant.
October 22, 2019 at 8:26 PM
Anonymous said…
Glad I was the fellow student who sparked your curiosity on this rhyme :) . In general I was confused as well on how to identify the difference between the mimicking snake and the venomous one, although if I saw any snake in real life I would make a break for it—but for general knowledges its fascinating to know the shape of a head also can help you identify whether it is poisonous or not. Now that I recall all the pictures of venomous snake I have seen they in fact do all have triangular shaped heads.
October 22, 2019 at 9:24 PM
Anonymous said…
Ignorance of these topics is definitely a problem, and I’m glad you brought this up. Being able to differentiate between harmful and harmless things in nature is very important, as it could possibly save someone’s life. However, regardless of whether or not they are venomous, we should stay away from snakes or at least try our best to not disturb them to avoid any problems.
October 23, 2019 at 2:57 PM
Anonymous said…
It is very important to be able to tell the difference between harmless and harmful organisms in an ecosystem and it could help someone at big time. I think it may also be helpful to stay away from snakes in the first place. I was never able to tell the difference between a venomous snake and a mimicking snake and to bee able to know the difference will help. This article really helped
October 23, 2019 at 5:09 PM
Anonymous said…
Everybody is so quick to be fearful of snakes when they really only attack when provoked! It’s interesting to see how so many of our imaginations run wild and we immediately think the worst of these creatures because of little nursery rhymes we learn as children. The best way to be mindful of snakes is to do our research.
October 23, 2019 at 8:50 PM
Anonymous said…
It's important to observe these creatures from far. Snakes can be dangerous, but humans are more dangerous. I've never heard this rhyme before the trip and I think it's a good way to differentiate for the novice snake explorer. But there are always exceptions that can confuse people with the result of hurting snakes. Maybe there should be another saying created to differentiate the types. Either way, the snakes should be left alone.
October 26, 2019 at 5:13 PM
Aerah Kim said…
Snakes are very frightening, every snake I see I think that they are venomous in a type of way. But it's very interesting to know how to identify which snakes or venomous or not. The shape of their heads to the patterns on their bodies. But ive never heard of such rhyme its interesting, either way of knowing which is not dangerous I would still make a run for it.
October 27, 2019 at 7:26 PM
Anonymous said…
When my dad was younger he would go hunting for snakes, so he was very informed on which are poisonous or not. Me growing up in texas he also kept me informed on which is which. I grew up learning this saying so I think its a solid base knowledge. Not that I’m going to get close to check but its just good to know Incase your out on the ranch and it slithers its way into your truck. Not speaking from experience or anything.
October 28, 2019 at 10:41 AM
Anonymous said…
I couldn't remember the rhyme anyways, but knowing it only applies to two different snakes makes sense. Kind of like the I before e except after c. It is not true for many thinks. I prefer to just stay away from snakes in general, except domesticated snakes because they are so cute. Especially with hats. Dangernoodles with hats.
October 28, 2019 at 12:16 PM
Anonymous said…
Many of the snake attacks are typically instigated by humans themselves, resulting in many people being injured because they tried to capture the snake or just hadn’t seen the snake while walking. This rhyme is quite helpful to many people who don’t know how to differentiate a poisonous snake from one that’s not.
October 28, 2019 at 12:17 PM
Anonymous said…
I never even knew the rhyme to begin with. Honestly, we don’t really need the rhyme because we shouldn’t even mess with snakes to begin with. Snakes don’t really attack people unless they feel threatened after all.
October 28, 2019 at 12:37 PM
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