Venomous snakes in North America

Most venomous snakes in North America have eyes like slits and are called pit vipers. Their heads are triangle-shaped and they have fangs. One exception is the coral snake, which has a cigar-shaped head and round pupils. Nonvenomous snakes typically have rounded heads, round pupils and no fangs.

However, these physical features are not always reliable for identifying venomous snakes. Treat any unknown snakebite as potentially dangerous, and seek medical care right away.