Blue Malayan Coral Snake

The Blue Malayan coral snake is found in

Blue Malayan Coral Snake (Maticora bivirgata)

Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Blue Malaysian Coral Snake or Coral Snake

Distinguishing Features

It is a medium-sized coral snake with a slender body. Adults are usually 140 centimetres (5 ft) in length, though larger specimens have been captured. The color is indigo or deep blue with light blue or white stripes along each side of the body. The head, venter, and tail are usually bright red. It has a blunt snout with a pair of small eyes on the sides of the head.

The snake, especially its juveniles, is often confused with the Pink-headed Reed Snake (Calamaria schlegeli) as they share similar habitat and appearance. But the latter is much smaller (max. 50 cm) than fully grown Calliophis bivirgatus, and it may be dangerous to confuse these two species as the Reed Snake is a non-venomous snake whereas the Blue Malaysian coral snake has a potentially lethal venom.

Geographical Range

Maticora bivirgata bivirgata inhabits Java, and M. b. flaviceps is found from Burma, Thailand and Cambodia through West Malaysia and Singapore to Sumatra and various islands of the Riau Archipelago. M. b. tetrataenia inhabits Borneo

Habitat

It inhabits primary forest floors, but can also be found in mature secondary forest.

Life History

Nocturnal in habits, it may sometimes be encountered stretched across forest trails in the early morning. Its primary food source is other snakes.

Comments

This is a beautiful, but highly venomous, front-fanged species - if bitten, its neurotoxic venom can cause death.