Which phrase is used to help distinguish coral snakes from look-alikes?

The phrase "Red touches yellow, kill a fellow" is a mnemonic that helps people differentiate between coral snakes and their harmless look-alikes, particularly in North America. Coral snakes have distinctive banding that features red, yellow, and black colors. The accurate understanding of this phrase indicates that if the red bands are touching the yellow bands, it signifies a venomous coral snake. This is a crucial distinction because some non-venomous snakes, like the milk snake, have similar coloration, but in their case, the red bands touch black bands instead of yellow.

This mnemonic is memorable and effectively encapsulates a vital identification rule: proximity of colors. By knowing this key detail, one can confidently identify a potentially dangerous snake, which is essential for safety in regions where these snakes are common. The other phrases do not accurately convey this critical distinction, making them less reliable for identification purposes.