Fig. 1.

Diversity in snake coloration. These species all have extreme venoms but radically differ in coloration. Many species of the family Elapidae are cryptic (A), but some elapids use strong warning coloration (B). Venomous pitvipers (Viperidae) often have characteristic geometric patterns that may aid in both camouflage and warning (C). Brightly colored elapids and cryptic pitvipers are mimicked by many other snakes. (A) Eastern brown snake (Pseudonaja textilis), courtesy of Bridget Lunn. (B) Arizona coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus), courtesy of Andrew Durso. (C) Terciopelo (Bothrops asper), courtesy of Ryobu Fukuyama.