What structural group do native US dangerous snakes like rattlesnakes belong to, unlike the King Cobra?
Answer
Pit vipers.
Native dangerous snakes frequently encountered in the US, such as rattlesnakes, copperheads, and cottonmouths, belong to the pit viper group. This classification is structurally and venom-wise distinct from the King Cobra (*Ophiophagus hannah*), which is part of the Elapidae family, sharing classification with true cobras. While both groups are venomous, their morphology, delivery mechanisms, and the specific cocktail of toxins (hemotoxins versus neurotoxins being a common differentiator) are fundamentally different.
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