House Snake (Noun)
Meaning
Nonvenomous tan and brown king snake with an arrow-shaped occipital spot; southeastern ones have red stripes like coral snakes.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The house snake, a type of king snake, is often mistaken for a coral snake, but it's completely nonvenomous.
- Homeowners in the southeastern United States often welcome a house snake into their yard, as they prey on rodents and pests.
- The house snake's unique occipital spot resembles an arrow, making it easy to distinguish from other nonvenomous species.
- In some parts of the country, the local population refers to the king snake as a house snake, due to its common presence around homes.
- Researchers have found that the southeastern house snake's coral snake-like pattern serves as a defense mechanism to deter predators.