Clark's Coral Snake

The Clark's coral snake is found in the Pacific lowlands of extreme southeastern Costa Rica, Panama and western Colombia.

Clark's Coral Snake (Micrurus clarki)

Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Clark's coral snake, coral, coralillo, coral macho, gargantilla

Distinguishing Features

Small to medium sized coral snake, adults usually 50 to 60 cm long (max. 90 cm); Top of head black; posterior yellow rings narrow middorsally (some incomplete). Body pattern of very broad red rings (usually including some black pigment) separated by 13 to 20 broad black rings narrowly bordered by yellow or cream bands. Tail has 5 to 9 black rings.

Geographical Range

Found in the Pacific lowlands of extreme southeastern Costa Rica, Panama and western Colombia.

Habitat

Primarily found in rain forest; found along river banks in drier areas transitional between tropical wet and tropical dry forest. Occurs up to 900 m (usually less than 500 m) elevation.

Life History

Not much known for this species, but coral snakes are usually mainly nocturnal, and mainly terrestrial (or burrowing). They usually are nonaggressive; most bites occur during attempts to capture the snake. They are usually oviparous with less than 15 eggs in a clutch) and mainly eat available lizards, other snakes, frogs, or invertebrates.

Comments

Not much known for this species, but coral snake have mainly highly potent neurotoxic venom, injected through grooved, fixed upper front fangs. Due to the small size of their mouth, coral snakes bites to humans usually occur on fingers, toes, or webbing between them.