The first one, I would be wary because of the colors. I’d rather run from a corn snake than be bitten by a copperhead. When I see color like that, I’m taking a step back regardless, before I even have time to look at it’s face/head
The second one… also gonna be wary of any swimming snake. Could be mostly harmless, or it could be a cotton mouth; but I’m not gonna check it out closely enough, before backing up. It still kinda has that “angry brow” too, if I did happen to get close enough
But I see your point either way. You can’t rely on just one factor for identification. The snake in OP’s video isn’t a threat to me, so it’s easier to observe.
I guess what I’m kinda saying, is that it helps to know a quick distinction between venomous/non-venomous. It might not be perfect for identification, but it helps the knee-jerk fear of thinking “the only good snake is a dead snake”. It at least helped me reduce my own fear, when I moved to a place where venomous snakes are much more probable.
It doesn’t keep me from reacting, but it definitely helps me from over-reacting
Edit: Looking at pics of the spine-bellied sea snake (Hardwicke’s sea snake), that thing definitely seems deceiving! It really doesn’t fit my usual assumptions. I still wouldn’t mess with any swimming snake, unless I absolutely knew what it was… but still, that is different from what I’ve seen
oh hai, It’s me, the most venomous snake in the world
https://otlibrary.com/wp-content/gallery/bel/turtleheaded-sea-snake.jpg
Edit: I have accidentally spread a non truth. That snake isn’t ultra deadly, (although it is still venomous), but this one is.
https://cdn.britannica.com/99/160299-050-0969F3DA.jpg
Look at it. It looks mildly uncomfortable in this social situation.
I would absolutely not assume this creature meant me any harm
The first one, I would be wary because of the colors. I’d rather run from a corn snake than be bitten by a copperhead. When I see color like that, I’m taking a step back regardless, before I even have time to look at it’s face/head
The second one… also gonna be wary of any swimming snake. Could be mostly harmless, or it could be a cotton mouth; but I’m not gonna check it out closely enough, before backing up. It still kinda has that “angry brow” too, if I did happen to get close enough
But I see your point either way. You can’t rely on just one factor for identification. The snake in OP’s video isn’t a threat to me, so it’s easier to observe.
I guess what I’m kinda saying, is that it helps to know a quick distinction between venomous/non-venomous. It might not be perfect for identification, but it helps the knee-jerk fear of thinking “the only good snake is a dead snake”. It at least helped me reduce my own fear, when I moved to a place where venomous snakes are much more probable.
It doesn’t keep me from reacting, but it definitely helps me from over-reacting
Edit: Looking at pics of the spine-bellied sea snake (Hardwicke’s sea snake), that thing definitely seems deceiving! It really doesn’t fit my usual assumptions. I still wouldn’t mess with any swimming snake, unless I absolutely knew what it was… but still, that is different from what I’ve seen