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Guyana Blackback Coral Snake (Leptomicrurus collaris)
Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Guianan black-backed coral snake, Guianan slender coral snake
Distinguishing Features
Slender, dark, terrestrial coral snake adults usually less than 40 cm long (max. 45.6 cm). Body mostly dark dorsally w/ a distinctive pattern of 35-50 oval white, yellow, or orange-red blotches on black or dark brown venter. This species lacks body rings, and the head and dorsum are black or very dark-brown w/ a red, white, or yellow neck ring; tail short, one pair of fixed upper front fangs. Dorsal scales are smooth and in 15 mid-body rows.
Geographical Range
Limited to Caribbean & Atlantic coastal countries of northern South America.
Habitat
Found mainly in lowland rainforest and lower montane wet forests from near sea level up to 800 m elevation.
Life History
Mainly nocturnal, at least semi-fossorial (burrowing) in sandy soil & accumulations of forest litter. Oviparous, clutch size not documented. Reportedly prey mainly on available lizards, other snakes, & invertebrates.
Comments
Not much known, probably mainly neurotoxic. Venom is injected through grooved, fixed front fangs. Due to the small size of their mouth, this species could probably only bite humans on a finger, a toe, or in webbing between such digits. No serious human envenomations or fatalities reported due to bites by this species.