Five of the venomous snakes are known as pit vipers. The pit vipers are recognizable by their large, triangular or diamond shaped head and vertically elliptical pupils. North Carolina's other venomous snake, the eastern coral snake, is a member of the Elapidae family, which includes the deadly cobras. These beautiful snakes, distinguished by bright red, yellow and black rings around the body, are the most toxic of North Carolina's poisonous snakes.
Coral snakes occur in the southeastern region of the state, but are rare.
It is, however, not an aggressive snake and does not bite unless disturbed or provoked. The cottonmouth, so named because of the white lining on the inside of their mouth, lives in and near water bodies in North Carolina. This highly poisonous snake is the only poisonous water snake in the United States. They are among the most abundant snakes in the coastal plain. North Carolina's three rattlesnakes can be easily recognized by the distinctive rattle at the end of their tail.