Venomous snakes are part of North Carolina’s diverse fauna, and residents and visitors alike should be aware of the different species they might encounter. In the unlikely event of a bite, accurate identification of the snake responsible helps medical personnel select the most appro-priate treatment.  This publication is a basic guide to the identification of North Carolina’s venomous snakes. Distribution maps and natural history information are provided for each species, along with conservation information and additional refer-ences. Usage of common and scientific names follows Collins (1990) — although it will be a long time before the name Copperhead will replace “highland moccasin,” “poplar leaf,” “white oak,” or “pilot” for many North Carolinians.  Descriptions were compiled mostly from specimens in the collections of the North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences. Total length measurement is an approxi-mation for adults of a given species; the last measurement listed is the largest verifiable specimen record. For exam-ple, adult Eastern Coral Snakes in North Carolina range between 18 and 36 inches in total length; the largest spec-imen examined measured 36 inches. Rattlesnake measure-ments do not include the rattle.  Distribution data are based primarily on records in collec-tions of the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences, as well as specimens in more than 50 additional herpetological col-lections (Palmer and Braswell 1995). Range maps include only sites supported by museum specimens (solid circles), by documentation from the scientific literature, or by ver-ified sight records (open circles). Persons who encounter any of these species at a previously unreported location are encouraged to report the occurrence to the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences.  Comprehensive distribution maps for all snakes in the eastern United States may be found in Conant and Collins (1998). See also Resources, page 28