In December of 1978, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed hazardous waste management standards that included reduced requirements for several types of large volume wastes.
Sometimes they have a black or olive-brown base color. Some have a lighter tan base color. As with most snakes, the belly is a lighter color, usually a yellowish cream color. Some specimens have lighter-colored bands running the length of their bodies. Refer to the king cobra pictures above.
Different species of snake can often be distinguished by their characteristic color patterns. Some are single uniform colors. Others have dark or light markings organized into stripes, spots, blotches or some other pattern. Examples of the major types of color patterns are illustrated here.