# What type of snake is this? (seen in Southern California) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 11, 2017, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-snake-is-this-seen-in-southern-california/786390 "2017-05-11T20:10:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 34
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2017, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-snake-is-this-seen-in-southern-california/786390/34 "2017-05-16T13:39:50Z")
No one is arguing that a distinction can’t be made. If you and Novelty Bubble want to use venomous and poisonous in this way, please do so, but don’t pretend that your _stylistic_ choice is anything other than what it is: a personal preference. > [@Venomous vs. poisonous: A history?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/venomous-vs-poisonous-a-history/721055/4): > > When I worked in a venom lab in the 1970s, we used the words interchangably in conversation, but we did refer to our company as a venom lab, not a poison lab. I never ran into nitpickery on this topic until I started reading SDMB, and it makes me roll my eyes every time I see it. > [@Venomous vs. poisonous: A history?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/venomous-vs-poisonous-a-history/721055/7): > > When I took herpetology in 1972, I don’t ever recall a distinction being made. I’ve only heard this supposed distinction within the past decade or so. And you can find just as many dictionary entries that don’t bother with a distinction. From Google: (of an animal) producing poison as a means of attacking enemies or prey; venomous. adjective: poisonous “a poisonous snake” synonyms: venomous, deadly “a poisonous snake” --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-type-of-snake-is-this-seen-in-southern-california/786390)._