Balsan Coral Snake

The Balsan coral snake is found in Mexico (Michoacan, Guerrero, Jalisco, Morelos, Puebla, Oaxaca).

Balsan Coral Snake (Micrurus laticollaris)

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

Distinguishing Features

Head black, including the anterior part of the parietals, so that the posterior angle of the frontal is light. A yellow ring on the posterior part of the head, extending to the second dorsal scale row; this is followed by a broad black ring that extends over 12 to 13 scale rows; followed by a yellow ring 3 to 4 scales wide, and this in turn by a black ring 4 to 5 scales wide. This is then followed by a red ring 6 to 9 scales in width, in which the tips of the scales are black. Behind this are black rings arranged in threes, the outer separated from the middle one by yellow rings, the middle ring being about twice as wide as the outer ones. Each group of three rings is separated from the next by a broad red black-spotted ring. Including that of the head, there are 7 or 8 such triads on the body. The tail has three broad black rings separated by narrower yellow ones

Geographical Range

This species is endemic to Mexico and occupies low, moderate and intermediate elevations in portions of the basins of the R�o de las Balsas and R�o Tepalcatepec in Michoac�n, Guerrero, Jalisco. Its range extends northwestward along the coastal foothills of Colima and Jalisco. Its elevational range is from 300 to 1,800 m asl.

Habitat

This coral snake is found in tropical deciduous forest, oak forest and arid tropical scrub forest.

Life History

Comments

This species is protected by Mexican law under the category Pr (Special Protection). It occurs in some protected areas throughout its range.

The common name is derived from the Balsas river in south-central Mexico, along which this species appears to occur.