Andean Black-Backed Coral Snake

The Andean Black-Backed coral snake is found in S Colombia, E Ecuador, N/E Peru, NW Brazil, NW Bolivia.

Andean Black-Backed Coral Snake (Micrurus narduccii)

Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Andean black-backed coral snake, Andean slender coral snake

Distinguishing Features

Adults usually 30 to 60 cm long (max. 110 cm); body usually uniformly black dorsally, except for a pale (usually yellow) ring around the neck; some rare specimens also have 2 to 8 very narrow pale rings around the body (look like thin cross-stripes dorsally), usually mid-dorsally and toward the tail, and a fairly short tail. Belly w/ 38 to 62 obvious oval orange, red or yellow blotches on a black background. Has a pair of fixed upper front fangs.

Geographical Range

S Colombia, E Ecuador, N/E Peru, NW Brazil, NW Bolivia

Habitat

Mainly found in lowland rainforest & lower montane wet forest, usually in accumulated leaf litter in shaded sites at 100-1,500 m elevation.

Life History

Mainly nocturnal, at least partly fossorial (burrowing) in soft soil or forest litter. May raise & curl tail when disturbed. Seldom seen & usually not aggressive; most bites occur during attempts to capture the snake. Oviparous, usually <20 eggs per clutch. Mainly prey on available lizards, invertebrates or other small snakes.

Comments

Mainly neurotoxic venom which can be injected through grooved fixed front fangs. Due to the small size of their mouth, bites to humans by this species usually occur on a finger, toe or webbing between those. No serious human envenomations or fatalities reported to have been caused by this species, so far.