red-bellied snake
• noun
North American A small, harmless woodland snake native to North America, characterized by a brown or gray back and a bright red, orange, or pinkish underside.
"While clearing out the damp leaves near the garden, we discovered a tiny red-bellied snake searching for slugs."
Australian A shorthand reference sometimes used for the red-bellied black snake, a venomous elapid native to eastern Australia.
"The guide warned the hikers to stick to the trail to avoid surprising a red-bellied snake basking in the sun."
Word Nuance & Usage
Be careful to distinguish the harmless, small North American red-bellied snake from the highly venomous red-bellied black snake native to Australia, as context and geography completely change the danger level.
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Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.