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Brazilian Coral Snake (Micrurus brasiliensis)
Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Brazilian coral snake, cobra-coral, coral verdadeira
Distinguishing Features
Medium to large tricolored coral snake, adults usually 65 to 85 cm long (max. 151 cm). Body reddish with 11-14 triads of black rings, tail short (with less than 2 full triads). Snout and chin white (usually with scales edged with black; and often with black spots), head with wide red band around middle. Dorsal junctions of red and black rings looks "jagged" because scale tend to be all red or all black. One pair of fixed, upper, front fangs.
Geographical Range
Limited to southeastern and south-central Brazil.
Habitat
Found mainly in deciduous subtropical and tropical forests, cerrado savannas, and scrub-palm associations; from near sea level to about 600 m elevation.
Life History
Not much known. Probably mainly nocturnal, terrestrial and/or fossorial (burrowing in loose soil or forest floor litter). Probably not aggressive toward people. Main prey probably local lizards, invertebrates, and other smaller snakes. Probably oviparous with expected clutch size <15 eggs.
Comments
Not well known. Most coral snakes have potent neurotoxic venom, which can be injected with their pair of fixed upper front fangs. Bites of humans by these or other coral snakes usually occur on a toe, finger or in webbing between such digits; and usually result from the victim trying to catch or molest the snake.