Venomous Snakes of the United States Quiz

Answer: Eastern diamondback rattlesnake

The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is also the longest venomous snake in the U.S.

Answer: They make a popping sound.

A scarlet king snake has striped bands that make it look like a coral snake. Scarlet king snakes have black bands on either side of each red band while coral snakes have yellow bands on either side of the red band.

Answer: No, they are found throughout the Americas.

While rattlesnakes are not exclusively found in the United States, they are only found in the Americas (North/Central/South).

Answer: Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake

Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnakes can be found at altitudes of up to 9000 feet.

Answer: true

There are location names on the peninsula that indicate that timber rattlesnakes at one point likely inhabited the region, however no accounts have been recorded in over 100 years.

Answer: Crotalus adamanteus

Crotalus means rattle. Adamanteus means an extraordinarily hard substance such as steel or diamond, hence the diamondback's Latin name.

Answer: Horn-like projections on their head

There are three species of sidewinder and each has two horn-like projections on their heads.

Answer: Black, yellow, red, yellow, [repeat]

The saying goes, "Red touching yellow kills a fellow," or one of mine, "If black never touches red, you might end up dead." These sayings can only be reliably used for North American coral snakes. To know if you're safe (in North America anyway) use this one: "Red touching black, venom I lack."

Answer: Sistrurus are larger in size

The Sistrurus rattlesnakes not only have a smaller rattle, that makes a high-pitched buzzing sound, but are also smaller in general.

Answer: rattlesnake

While some will credit the western diamondback rattlesnake with the most snakebite-related deaths in the United States, Scott Shupe makes the reasonable assumption that some of the deaths reported were likely caused by the Mojave rattlesnake rather than the similar looking western diamondback in his 2011 book, "U.S. Guide to Venomous Snakes and Their Mimics".