Cauca Coral Snake

The Cauca coral snake is limited to a few sites on the Pacific versant of the Cordillera Occidental in western Colombia.

Cauca Coral Snake (Micrurus multiscutatus)

Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Cauca coral snake, coral caucana, rabo de aji

Distinguishing Features

Medium sized, 2 colored (red and black) coral snake, longest recorded adult specimen is 84.2 cm long. Snout is black, parietal ring is sometimes yellow, remainder of head and body with alternating red (sometimes quite dull) and black rings. There are 59 to 68 black rings on the body and 3 to 4 more on the tail.

Geographical Range

Limited to a few sites on the Pacific versant of the Cordillera Occidental in western Colombia.

Habitat

Found mainly in lowland moist & wet forests, subtropical wet forests, & lower montane wet forests at 100-900 m elevation.

Life History

No specific data. Most species of coral snakes usually are nonaggressive, mainly nocturnal, mainly terrestrial (and burrow in loose soil or litter), oviparous (with clutches of less than 15 eggs), and prey on other snakes, lizards or invertebrates which are available locally.

Comments

Not much known, but most species of coral snakes have highly potent, mainly neurotoxic venom, which can be injected through a pair of grooved, fixed, upper front fangs. Due to their small mouths, most coral snake bites to humans usually occur on a toe or finger, & usuallu during attempts to catch or molest the snake.

Micrurus multiscutatus is very similar to M. multifasciatus but the difference is in the V shape on the posterior border of the supracephalic band in M. multiscutatus.