Coral snakes lack retractable fangs.
Instead they rely on fixed retroverted teeth to gnaw into the flesh of their prey. They must penetrate the skin long enough for their venom to be deposited around their teeth and into the wound. The severity of the reaction to a snakebite depends on the degree of envenomation. So, this study suggests that most victims of snakebite will have a moderate local reaction with mild systemic signs. Life-threatening consequences such as shock are unlikely.