false coral snake
• noun
Any of several non-venomous or mildly venomous snakes native to the Americas, such as the milk snake or scarlet kingsnake, that feature bright banding of red, black, and yellow or white to mimic the appearance of highly venomous true coral snakes as a defense mechanism.
"Hikers often mistake the harmless milk snake for a dangerous predator because this false coral snake shares a similar banded pattern of red, black, and yellow."
Word Nuance & Usage
The term refers to Batesian mimics rather than a single taxonomic species. It is crucial not to rely solely on popular North American rhymes (e.g., 'red on black, friend of Jack') to distinguish them from true coral snakes, as many highly venomous South American species defy this color rule.
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Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.