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Caatinga Coral Snake (Micrurus ibiboboca)
Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Caatinga coral snake, coral, cobra de coral, coral-verdadeira, ibibboboca, kraalslang, krarasneke
Distinguishing Features
Medium to large 3 colored coral snake, adults usually 75 to 85 cm long (max. 133 cm). Front of head black and white, followed by a narrow black ring and a broad red ring. Body pattern usually broad red to reddish brown rings separated by 7 to 13 triads of 5 almost equally wide rings (3 black rings with 2 white rings dividing them) overall (rbwbwbr). Tail with less than 2 complete black triads.
Geographical Range
Eastern Brazil (South of the Amazon, Bahia).
Habitat
Mainly found in semiarid regions of caatinga scrub, semideciduous upland forest, and cerrado savanna in northeastern Brazil; also found in more humid eastern coastal mesic forests. Probably savanna or thorn forest in the Guianas. Most common in relatively dry lowlands, but from near sea level up to 1,200 m elevation.
Life History
Mainly terrestrial and diurnal but may be active into dusk. Not usually aggressive, tend to avoid humans and larger animals. Oviparous (clutch size probably less than 15 eggs, but not reported), mainly prey on other snakes, lizards and amphibians (and possibly invertebrates when young).
Comments
The venom is not well known. Venom of most species of coral snakes is highly potent and mainly neurotoxic. It can be injected through a pair of grooved, fixed front fangs. Due to their small mouths, coral snakes bites to humans usually occur on a finger or toe, and usually during attempts to catch or molest the snake.