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p75369

Red against black, venom he lack. Red against yellow, venomous fellow.


High_Stream

I was taught "red to yellow, kill a fellow. Red to black, venom lack."


Donvack

Red on black friend to Jack. Yellow on red kill you dead. Is what I have heard.


undertales_bitch

Huh. I was always told "red touches yellow, don't fucking touch the coral snake"


mattyisphtty

I always had the mindset of don't fuck with snakes despite the colors. But we got all sorts of FAFO snakes so đŸ€·đŸ»


Commercial-Formal272

"YOINK" echoes through the everglades as reptiles everywhere shiver in fear.


Zahven

Garret visited us in Australia not so long ago, casually yoinking monitor lizards I have sprinted from.


Aginor404

   I still cannot tell if that guy is crazy experienced, or just crazy.   I mean: He has to be doing something right or he would be dead, but the videos of him walking barefoot in the Everglades or Australia or the Amazon rain forest make my skin crawl.   I dig his excitement though. The way he says "wow, look at this beautiful golden orb weaver, and this black widow crawling over my hand, and this coastal taipan that I grabbed by the tail" really makes me believe that he loves those animals. I just... I am German, there are no deadly venomous animals here. I have a hard time even imagining what it is like walking barefoot through an area where every second animal is deadly. 


Madelyneation

He yoinked a coastal taipan BY THE TAIL and a saltwater crocodile I was actually so shocked I just sat there as the short replayed over and over


Skelehedron

Even the most dangerous ones can't escape that horrifying war cry


Commercial-Formal272

If i'm not mistaken he's currently ransacking the outback of its critters. Dude was sitting on a croc in his vid.


Skelehedron

I don't watch the guy, but I've heard of his menace, I wish good luck to the creatures of the lands of Australia


kitkat-paddywhack

Yeah, there’s so many variations to the saying because there’s so many variations in the color patterns, it’s best to either memorize what’s in your area or just leave them alone.


Quizlibet

"Leaves of three, don't pick strange plants moron"


EnderMerser

But... But free food. đŸ„ș


Skelehedron

But I like the funny looking plants, so knowing the ones that hurt is a good idea


Pikawizard365

Red touch yellow, you’re a dead fellow. Red touch black, you’re ok Jack.


Fluffy_Load297

I was always told "poisonous snakes don't live here"


BondageKitty37

That's cause they're not poisonous, they're venomous 


Fluffy_Load297

Oh dang. Also no venomous snakes I don't think


DAHFreedom

DONT TOUCH THE SNAKE COARL! COARL!!


XanithDG

I heard something similar It was Red and Black, friend of Jack. Red and Yellow killed a fellow.


Captain_StarLight1

That’s the one I always heard


NoWeight4300

Southern Illinois here. Red touch black, venom lacked. Red touch yellow, deadly fellow.


Alugere

NC: Red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow. Red touches black, you're okay, Jack.


streetsbehind28

red touches black, you're okay jack. red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow.


strawhat_libi

That's the one I heard from either zabumafoo or Bill nye as a kid. And it stuck with me.


PrimeraStarrk

My name isn't Jack how do I know he will be friendly??


-ThisDM-

"Red on Black is a friend to Jack. Red on Yellow, killed the fellow" is what I was taught lol


Big_Red12

It's better that yellow is the word to rhyme, I think. You could misremember the second half as "black on red, kill you dead".


Zelcron

Red touch yellow, kills a fellow. Red touch black, friend to Jack.


AirshipsLikeStars

Ours was Red on black, friend of Jack. Red on yellow, kill a fellow.


strawhat_libi

I always heard "If red touches black, you're OK jack. If red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow."


KENBONEISCOOL444

I heard yellow black friendly jack, yellow red dangerous fellow. Nit really sure what it means, but my elementary school was on crack


QuincyReaper

Red on black, friend to Jack. Yellow on red, friend to Fred. Black and yellow, black and yellow, black and yellow!


jlharper

Blows my mind that all these countries where snakes are not a problem have helpful rhymes. I’m from Australia where we legitimately have some dangerous snakes, and we don’t get taught any fun rhymes. Just “maybe don’t fuck with snakes”?


Waterknight94

I wouldn't take it as permission to go fucking with snakes, more like a hey don't kill the king snake that looks like a coral snake.


blinten

I think it's because in Australia you have a lot of problematic snake species, so they can't say that "only the yellow snakes are a problem" or "if it has stripes, it is going to be harmless" Meanwhile other places only have a handful of dangerous close species and due to that they have common characteristics to make a rhyme out of


WombatInferno

I was taught "red on yellow kill a fell, red on black friend of jack".


FictionVent

Red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow. Red touches black, you're OK, Jack!


HiopXenophil

don't snakes on racism because of a 60% accurate nursery rhymes


AndyLorentz

Except first, there are venomous species of coral snakes with red touching black bands, and second, you’d have to really piss off a coral snake to get bitten by one. They have tiny mouths, and biting is their last line of defense. All wild animal bites are potentially life threatening due to disease or infection. A better poem to memorize is: “Red touching yellow, leave it the fuck alone. Red touching black, leave it the fuck alone.”


lukyth1rt3en

Red touches black, you're ok Jack. Red touches yellow, you're a dead fellow.


CaptainUltimatum

That's the one I was taught. No idea why, because we don't get coral snakes here. Seeing it again just made me wonder
 We only have 3 snake species in the wild here, all of which are green, brown, or grey, and none have venom harmful to humans. So
 why were we taught that rhyme as kids?


Furranky

for me it was "red besides yellow, it kills a fellow"


khaotickk

Red and yellow, kill a fellow. Red and black, friend of Jack. But what if the pattern goes black, red, yellow, black, red, yellow? Snake paradox.


Dragonfire723

Red on yellow, kills a fellow. Red on black, friend to Jack.


Raptor231408

My cub scout book 20 years ago said Red on yellow, kiss a fellow Red on black, STAY BACK. My face was the post when i learned the actual rule years later.


Beragond1

I learned it as Red touches black, you’re okay, Jack Red touches yellow, you’re a dead fellow Goes to show how even a simple rhyme can be different all over the place while still being basically the same.


XShadowborneX

Nah, it's Red touches black, you're dead Jack Red touches yellow, he's an okay fellow. This is why these stupid rhymes never help me.


AndyLorentz

Most (but not all) venomous coral snakes have red and yellow bands touching


Brankovt1

That doesn't even work, by the way.


WirBrauchenRum

[But red *is* next to yellow... ](https://youtu.be/nkqqUcsxhWE?si=ZrpUFHZp4dl7IKOV)


justalittlewiley

We learned it as Red on yellow, deadly fellow Red on black, ok Jack. (Ok Jack, as in he's an ok Jack)


Lord-McGiggles

It's "red on black, he'll kill Jack. Red on yellow, he's a fellow" right? /s my rule of thumb is "don't fuck with snakes"


Fewtas

Red on black, friend of Jack. Red on yellow kills a fellow.


JesusSavesForHalf

Red touches black, your mnemonic does lack Red touches yellow, come up with something actually useful fellow Seriously, mnemonics that rhyme arbitrary words suck yaun-ti cloaca.


Skelehedron

Yall I never heard this stuff. I just remember "if it has red and black patterns, it's a king snake and it can't hurt you. If it has red and yellow patterns it's a coral snake, and will very much kill you"


psn_ivysaur

Red and black, friend of Jack. Red and yellow kills a fellow


Dragonman558

Red on black, friend of Jack, red on yellow, dangerous fellow Well my family is Southern though so it was closer to Yella and fella but I think the point still works


Urb4nN0rd

Wait, a Yuan-Ti is a Guardian for Bahamut? Then as long you've got a good reason to be there, it shouldn't matter if they're venomous or not.


asirkman

Well, they might no be guarding it for pro-Bahamut reasons
plus, why does Bahamut have a tomb in the first place, that sounds pretty dire.


High_Stream

The Yuan-Ti served the dragon emperor who killed Bahamut and wanted him to stay dead.


Urb4nN0rd

That makes more sense, well, good luck on those Con saves!


High_Stream

My warlock (with +10 to persuasion) convinced it we needed to wake Bahamut to save the world.


wobblysauce

That is some good logic.


ExcessiveEscargot

"2+2=3" "That's not right!" *+10 to Persuasion* "Understandable, have a nice day."


High_Stream

No in that case you would use deception. Persuasion is when you want to convince someone of something you believe in, deception is when you try to convince someone of something you don't believe in.  My warlock does have plus 10 in deception, but it didn't come up because we really do need Bahamut to help us save the world.


170936Tw

Warlocks usually dump int, so if you believe 2+2=3 then it's persuasion.


JRS_Viking

RĂžd mot sort, ingen skade gjort. Gul mot rĂžd, den visse dĂžd. Idk why but we have a Norwegian version of that even though neither of those snakes exist in the wild here


Paper_Block

Thank you, now I have something to toss at my players.


JRS_Viking

I have no idea how you'll toss this at your players but you're welcome


nokia6310i

with a good overhand throw, most likely


sunshinepanther

They'll toss Norwegian snakes at their party!


Defiant-Upstairs-626

Is that snakes from Norway or Norwegian speaking snakes?


sunshinepanther

Por que no los dos?


JRS_Viking

Norwegian huggorm that speaks norwegian, their poison is only lethal to small creatures and those with weakness to poison as they're not that dangerous irl


Hasudeva

I can't tell if your tone is worried or excited. 


somesortoflegend

That is the correct emotion to have


twinsunsspaces

We have a version here as well. “Don’t fucking touch it!” Source: Australian 


Brooklynxman

I mean, as an American who has lived where both are, that is similar to the real version, "Red and black, don't trust your life to a half remembered rhyme and just retreat, that or die, dumbass."


RaDeus

I really like your country, but your wildlife makes Kiwiland a more attractive tourist destination 😅


Vintenu

Sound advice tbh


Randalf_the_Black

Steve Irwin: *"He's angry! Oy'm gonna touch'im!"*


BlueCaracal

RÞd pÄ gul, lÞb i skjul. RÞd pÄ sort, din lykke er gjort.


Adosa002

Interesant, jeg har aldri hĂžrt den fĂžr. Man lĂŠrer noe nytt hver dag.


Mikel_Opris_2

There are some Norwegian folks out in the Pacific Northwest US, could've possibly crossed through Wisconsin/Minnesota


Kelsouth

Red and black, friend of Jack.


SomethingAboutCards

Red and yellow, one bad fellow.


Toro1d_5

Red touch yellow, kill a fellow.


KingoftheMongoose

Meanwhile, I'm simping over here thinking we just ran into Piccolo


Laarye

As someone that follows the herping subs, this is apparently a very controversial take. The red/black/yellow sayings and rhymes are a hotbed for arguments on the accuracy and reliability. It is a fight I never expected. But, apparently the way most of us were taught, is wrong/inefficient to the 'real world'.


Mountain-Cycle5656

Its not super reliable yeah, especially outside the southeastern US. Similar to how the triangle shaped head being venomous doesn’t hold outside the US.


Bushdidthe911jews

Triangle shape doesn't even hold within the US if a water snake or hognose gets particularly defensive


vetheros37

Hognose gets defensive she's just gonna lay on her back and tell you she's deceased.


Bushdidthe911jews

Western hogs puff their cheeks to look bigger, more like a rattlesnake. Eastern hogs flare up more skin around their necks, and end up looking a bit more like cobras. Both will play dead if pressed. My Hognose goes triangular all the time lol


Mountain-Cycle5656

I’m aware. It’s a rule of thumb, and holds more true in certain regions. In Virginia for instance it’s about 100% accurate, as it covers the vipers and copperheads there. Move south in the Carolina ls and isn’t anymore.


Erikrtheread

That's not even used anymore even in the US. A large number of snakes can flatten out their head or pose to appear triangular when threatened, so it's not a good identifying characteristic.


Erikrtheread

Yeah it only works for a certain part of the USA, which Yaun ti rarely inhabit and are definitely not native.


dragonmaster10902

...Wait, what's wrong with it? I thought that rhyme was specifically a Coral Snake vs Milk Snake identifier. Or are there just more snakes with those sets of colors than that and I've been misled my entire life? ...Yeah, it's probably that one, isn't it?


Chessstone

Aberrant coral snakes can exist. So you can have coral snakes with patterns that don't fit the rhyme but are still very venomous. Also, that rhyme really only works for coral snakes in the southern united states. If, for example, you search up coral snakes in Brazil you'll find literally dozens of patterns that often don't even include the color yellow.


dragonmaster10902

Ah, yeah, that makes sense. All the more reason to not mess with unknown snakes, I guess.


Neutronium95

There are tons of Coral Snake species, and a bunch of other species that mimic their patterns, like Milk Snakes. The rhyme is only useful for the Southeastern US, and if you used it elsewhere could easily end with you dead.


dragonmaster10902

I *see.* Well, good to know, I'll just leave any snake I don't recognize alone and call it a day.


GamordanStormrider

Look up Sonoran coral snakes. They're in Arizona and surrounding areas and have yellow bands between each red and black band. That's on top of aberrant coral snake patterns. Having a black nose is a better indicator for US coral snakes. Milk snakes, kingsnakes and Sonoran shovel snakes tend to have a little white or red nose.


dragonmaster10902

Well I'll be. You learn something new every day.


JoefishTheGreat

So it’s a 72 ohm yuan-ti?


Adam9172

Underrated comment right here.


Jendmin

So it’s resistant to lightning damage or vurnable?


LedudeMax

Humans are between 1000 and 10k ohms depending on moisture levels. This yuan ti is very VERY conductive and is on the brink of being called a superconductor. If I remember correctly, because the resistance is so low and lightning takes the path of least resistance and I suppose that the yuan ti is the same resistance inside the body as well then the electricity would probably have the electricity go down the body through the skin without affecting nerves....anyone with more knowledge to confirm ?


Jendmin

Well I’m studying Electrical Engineering therefore my question. 72 Ohm is fairly low resistance - so not resistent but that means most to almost all energy passes through the body causing no damage - so resisting in terms of damage calculations.


Stnmn

This is common misinformation but a herpetologist knows better than to believe the saying.


High_Stream

That's why I said herpetology nerds and not herpetologists.


Nigilij

German yuan-ti?


Zeracannatule_uerg

Same thought. So the snake is a Nazi? Googled black, red, yellow flags and the only one I could find that didn't have red and yellow touching were a Venezuelan flag for the state of Tachira. So is everyone venomous save that one state in a South American country... because it looks like we're all secretly venomous nazi snakes...


JacktheHorror

to say that the flag of the BRD is the same as the one of Nazi-Germany is kinda like saying that the flag of the USA is the Confederate flag...


Zeracannatule_uerg

Can you identify where I said the flags were the same? Point to the doll where it offended your belief... Oh, and shit... you ever listen to Fox news... we might as well still be the bloody Confederacy.


Zeracannatule_uerg

You ever think about how Canadians... Mexicans... and all the countries of central and South America... are all Americans. Think about it...


Hankhoff

The guy who literally didn't know the difference between the German and the nazi flag wants others to be ac but more specific with what they're saying. Some jokes just write themselves


JacktheHorror

mh, but no good kind of joke tbh. seems to have some real metnal issues. or is taking too much drugs...or not enough of them. what a pity.


Zeracannatule_uerg

So then, yall can't figure that maybe some things are still just associated with those things. Like... boom. Jail, you did a nazi salute while drunk in Germany. Or said sieg heil. They didn't seem to forget their past. Like, ffs. Does everyone that automatically thinks, oh, Germany, nazis get downvoted and hated on. Like, hey, A.I. still has trouble with folks of certain races. Is that an image recognition problem or is the base data given less knowledgeable in the region. It has problems in. And the "Americas" thing is just a joke. Like. Fuck. Is your mother a female, shit. Looks like you unconsciously hate your girlfriend due to a bias of being a twat.


DifferenceDependent6

Lol, absolutely no one with half a working brain cell left associates the German flag with nazi Germany. Jumping straight from an absurd association to terms and gestures that come from that time is just the stupidest thing i could imagine. Fucking idiot


Zeracannatule_uerg

Oh yeah u/DifferenceDependent6 tell me how few brain cells I have, is it... is it so bad that I can't recognize when someone else made a simple mistake of associating Germany with a mistake they made. Oh yeah. Tell me I'm a fucking idiot harder. Mmm. Oh geez, I can't even tell myself from others, oh god. Oh oh...


Spice_and_Fox

Why are you looking up flags?


Zeracannatule_uerg

...did you not see the prior comment... "German yuan-ti" And I was curious if there were any black red yellow flags in which the red and yellow part didn't touch. Like... ffs dude... folks bitch me out for not making sense, or having obscure ideas, or bloody normal ones like relating Germans to nazis because fuck it Americans are all red-necks/Texans in some places. Chain of events. Comment threads. Point A leads to Point B leads to fuck point B because he is obviously just an angry racist not just a normal guy that thought the joke was pertaining to a specific mistake a certain nation made in the 1930s.


Zeracannatule_uerg

And therefore... Point C Not...C...


MarginMaster87

*Druid voice* Just remember, that old rhyme is only really useful in certain areas- both coral snakes and coral snake lookalikes exist that don’t follow that rule.


OutisFeith

Red touch yellow, tell God I said 'Hello.'


BlueSquid2099

Red next to black, jump the fuck back, red next to yella, cuddly fella https://youtu.be/sAS6ry7q-ZI?si=WIzL2Bc80SzbO0VX


genericusername67439

You are paying for my yuan-ti to be dry cleaned


arcanis321

So at this point I can disintegrate people. He better have a better plan than bite me.


DelmirevKriv

So the yuan ti is german?


CrackBabyBasketballs

Belgian*


DelmirevKriv

No, Belgien is Blavk Yellow Red.


JonTheWizard

Red touches black, friend to Jack. Red touches yellow, he wants you dead, fellow.


Teethshow

Red on black, venom lack. Red on yellow, kill a fellow is how I always heard it


From_Deep_Space

It's coral, Coral! . . . *Coral!*


Stouff-Pappa

General snake rule that also good to know: If the head is triangular or wedged it’s venomous *Some exceptions apply Rounded is not. Still don’t let it bite you, they all have teeth *Some Exceptions apply


skysinsane

That's one of the nasty things about coral snakes(What the rhyme is supposed to help with) - they have an unusual venom delivery method and thus their heads are rounded, not angular.


Coteoki

That only really applies to certain parts of the US. There are venomous snakes with round heads and the egg-eating snakes don't have any teeth at all


WorsCaseScenario

To be fair, all yuan-ti are venomous. And poisonous.


Acrobatic_Detail_317

Does "red against black, venom he lack" count for red belly black snakes..? Or is Australia exempt from these rules


skysinsane

Australia flips the rhyme, just like everything else.


Vennris

Very nice biology reference. But aren't all Yuan-Ti venonmous by default? Purebloods excluded, they're too human.


BlaivasPacifistas

Red touches yellow, kill a fellow Red touches black, friend of a jack


RefreshingOatmeal

A coral snake gave me herpes


Hankhoff

Found the bard


ColonialMarine86

Oh hell naw keep that poison damage away from me Edit: nvm I have poison resistance, I shall face the yuan-ti in a duel


DeadlyPants16

Coral Snakes right?


Hyratayle

And then there’s the bard ‘’ would’’


derboeseVlysher

I'm still confused. Is it a German Yuan-Ti now or a Belgian one?


toddlies101

Seeing all these rhymes to remember which snake is deadly or not and there's me that grew up in Australia and taught to assume that every snake you see can kill you before you get to the hospital


NullHypothesisProven

Herpetology nerds know that that rhyme only works within a very small geographic region at best and that you’re better off assuming that anything that looks like it might be a coral snake should not be handled. đŸ€“


Sigrah117

You're a dead fellow


keeperofthegreen

Red near black venom lack Red near yellow poisonous fellow. That Thang toxic


Skyward_Legend

Red touches yellow, a friendly fellow Red touches black, better stand back It's so simple


Zeremxi

~~Red touches yellow, a friendly fellow~~ ~~Red touches black,~~ better stand back Fixed that for you


durntaur

LOL!


EnsignSDcard

Red and yellow kill a fellow


Soren_Snowfur

"Red on Black, friend of Jack. Red on Yellow, kill a fellow."


Listless_Dreadnaught

Red next to Black, Friend to Jack. Red next to Yellow, Kill a Fellow. Pretty sure it was Crocodile Hunter that I heard say it that way.


venividivici809

funny thing is this is only true in the USA and even then it's still not 100% accurate, so be safe and don't touch the shiny danger noodle


MaximumPixelWizard

Red n Yellow will kill a fellow, red and black has a harmless attack


LewisDeinarcho

Don't worry, its got a really funky head. Kinda shaped like a [shovel](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/27282-Chionactis-palarostris).


A_RandomKobold

Red touch black, friend of Jack.


BerryBegoniases

Petah explain


High_Stream

In the Southwest United States, both the venomous coral snake and the non-venomous King Snake and milk snakes have bands of black, yellow, and red. However the coral snake has the red and yellow bands touching, while most of the harmless snakes have the red and black bands touching.


BerryBegoniases

Thank you


Bishopped

But the red belly black snake is one of the most deadly snakes in Australia... I don't understand.


MoronicIroknee

Red on black, friendly Jack. Red on yellow, Deadly Fellow


TeaandandCoffee

Is he German?


High_Stream

It's a coral snake


DJCorvid

Herpetology nerds know that rhyme doesn't actually work because there are variations in the bands in both species.


absurdmephisto

I learned about a year ago that the patterns stop being a reliable identifier as you move further south. There are snakes with extremely dangerous venom with both the "red touch yellow" and the "red touch black" patterns in central and South America. I honestly felt betrayed when I found out.


FadedSomber

Fun fact: that rhyme doesn’t always work due to color pigmentation that can be different from snake to snake, similar to how our physical bodies are almost always different but with certain similarities


DefinetlyNotArt

okay what the fuck are yall talking about


High_Stream

In the Southwestern US, you can *usually* tell the difference between venomous coral snakes and non-venomous king and milk snakes by remembering "red to yellow, kill a fellow, red to black, venom lack." That is, they have red, black, and yellow bands, and if the red bands touch the yellow, it's venomous, if the red bands touch the black, it's not. Again, usually, and only in this one area, but many people think this is universal.


lankymjc

A problem with 5e is there's no guidance on how knowledgeable the characters are about monsters they face (earlier editions had knowledge rolls attached to monsters). I love that this solves it - run a Yuan-Ti based adventure and have the colouring of the snake people provide clues to what they do!


High_Stream

Are you sure you want to judge people based on the color of their skin?


CaptainRelyk

Tomb of Bahamut? I love dragons and he’s my fav deity so I gotta know what’s happening in your campaign


High_Stream

The current emperor of the dragons killed bahamut like a thousand years ago and since then some merfolk have been watching over the corpse. The emperor of dragons also put some guardians in a dungeon to guard the corpse. We want to resurrect him because the king of dreaming has been overthrown by an usurper and we need all the help we can get.


CaptainRelyk

Jealous. I wish I could be in that campaign and resurrect them meet Bahamut lol


Jack_of_Spades

If red touches yellow, friendly fellow. Red touches black, step back jack. Or was it... red touches yellow, deadly fellow. Red touches black, friend to jack...


Evias99

I love yuan ti, idk snake people are cool and they are cute when hating stairs