Central American Coral Snake

The Central American coral snake is found from southern Mexico to northwestern Colombia.

Central American Coral Snake (Micrurus nigrocinctus)

Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Central American coral snake, coral, Coral Centroamericana, coralillo, gargantilla, salviara, limlim, babaspul, coral macho

Distinguishing Features

Medium sized 3 colored coral snake, adults usually 60 to 75 cm long (max. 115 cm). Quite variable; may be 2 or 3 colored. Snout black, usually with a yellow ring (red in bicolored specimens) of variable width on head at about the midpoint. Body pattern usually fairly broad red rings separated by much narrower sets of yellow/black/yellow rings (rybyr). Usually with 10 to 24 black rings on body, and 3 to 8 more on tail.

Geographical Range

Occurs from southern Mexico to northwestern Colombia, except no specimens from Belize.

Habitat

Found mainly in lowland rain forest, lowland dry forest, thorn forest, lower montane wet (or moist) forest, and lower montane dry forest. Occurs mainly from sea level to 1,300 m elevation (one report at 2,000 m).

Life History

Mainly nocturnal, but active at dusk, dawn and sometimes after rains. Mainly terrestrial and burrows in loose soil and leaf litter. Usually not aggressive, but will bite if restrained or molested. Oviparous (clutch size reportedly 2 to 11 eggs) and eats locally available other snakes (cannibalistic), lizards, amphibians, and invertebrates.

Comments

Has mainly potent neurotoxic venom which can be injected through a pair of grooved, upper, fixed front fangs. Due to the small size of their mouths, coral snake bites to humans usually occur on a finger or toe, and usually during attempts to catch the snake. This species is abundant throughout most of its range, and is the main cause of coralsnake bites of humans within its range.