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Banded Malaysian Coral Snake (Calliophis intestinalis)
Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Banded Malayan Coral Snake
Distinguishing Features
In Calliophis intestinalis lineata, an orange vertebral stripe, flanked by two thinner black lines, runs from the frontal scale till the tip of the tail. The tail is bright red underneath, with a thin black band in the middle. The body surface and flanks range from being brownish orange to greenish grey. The ventrals are neatly patterned with black and white bands while the body is brownish.
Geographical Range
The species is found in southern Thailand, the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Java, Sumatra, Borneo and the Philippines.
Habitat
It inhabits forests areas, and sometimes overgrown areas of parks and gardens. It is a more common species found in lowland to mid-level rainforest.
Life History
It is ground dwelling, and feeds mainly on other snakes, particularly the tiny Brahminy Blind Snake. This species lays anything from one to four eggs, which hatch in about two months. This tiny coral snake does not usually grow thicker than a pencil, and can be occassionally be found in plantations and crossing roads.
Comments
This small species has a powerful neurotoxic venom and should be approached with care. Bites have been reported from this species before with serious neurotoxic effects; care must be taken when dealing with this species in spite of its tiny size.