Snakes do not usually attack humans unless they are disturbed or threatened. They will first warn the human by baring their fangs, making hissing noises and getting into a classic S-shape position. A bite from a non-venomous snake looks like a row of teeth bites while the bite from a venomous snake looks like double fang marks. Snakebites will be painful, swollen and numb within 15 minutes. Snake venom may also cause symptoms of muscle aches, blurred vision, drowsiness and spasm of the jaw. Many snakes that bite do not usually inject their venom ("dry bites") as they prefer to use it for hunting. Sometimes the snake's tooth may dislodge inside the wound. There are several species of snakes in Singapore. The python and boa constrictor kills its prey by constriction and are not venomous. However, they will bite if provoked. The viper and king cobra are venomous snakes. Snake identification Garden snake Most garden snakes have pale yellow or orange strip down the spine and a paler stripe low on each side. Some are unstriped or have stripes only on the sides. They may have a spotted or checkered pattern. Green snake This is a snake which is commonly seen. It is bright green in colour on top, and whitish below. It has a long tapering tail and can grow up to about 26 inches in length. Corn snake A tan to reddish-brown snake with darker reddish-brown patches trimmed with black. It may grow up to 1.5 metres long. Python Pythons are large and muscular, and kill their prey by squeezing, or constricting, until it suffocates. Pythons range from 1 to 10 metres in length and weigh up to 140kg. Boa Constrictor Boa Constrictors have sharp teeth. They range from 3 to 4 metres in length and weigh up to 130kg. Banded Krait Banded kraits are deadly snakes marked with alternate black and pale yellow cross bands throughout the entire length of the body. They are usually found in costal regions such as mangrove forests and can grow up to 2 metres in length. Viper Vipers have a triangular head covered with scales and have a pair of long, hollow fangs in the front of the upper jaw. Vipers rest high in the trees during the daytime and are well camouflaged. They tend to be nocturnal. King Cobra The king cobra is the world's longest poisonous snake. Its venom is so potent that elephants can die within 3 hours of a bite. King cobras have a small and round head with large scales edged in black. It is thin and yellow-olive or brown in colour. They can grow up to 6 metres in length. King cobras are usually found in rainforests and swamps.  Coral snakes Coral snakes are brightly-coloured snakes. They often have bands or rings of red, black and yellow or white along their bodies. They are slender and tend to be nocturnal. Sea snake  Sea snakes have specialized flattened tails for swimming. Sea snakes have no gills and must rise to the surface of the water for air, but they can remain underwater for several hours at a time. They can grow up to 2.7 metres in length. First aid for snake bites Stay calm. Not all snakes are poisonous. Lay the victim flat. Immobilise the bitten limb, using a splint if possible and position it below the level of the heart. Wash the bite site with soap and water. If there is eye irritation, rinse the eye under gently running cool water for at least 15 minutes. Prevent run-off water from entering the unaffected eye. Do not cut and suck out the venom as it can lead to a bacteria infection. Do not apply a tourniquet or ice on the wound as this will reduce blood flow to the affected area. Try to get a description of the snake. This will help the doctor to identify the snake and the correct treatment. Do not try to catch the snake.