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Cloud Forest Coral Snake (Micrurus nebularis)
Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Ixtlan coral snake, Cloud forest coral snake
Distinguishing Features
Small 3 colored coral snake, only 7 specimens known, the longest was 55.7 cm. Head blunt and black except for a yellow ring at the back. Body pattern consists of broad red (may be quite dull) and black rings (usually 23 to 28 black body rings) separated by narrow to very narrow yellow rings. The tail has alternating wide black (usually 5 to 8) and narrower yellow rings.
Geographical Range
Limited to southern slopes of the Sierra de Juarez in central Mexico (central Oaxaca).
Habitat
This species is known only from pine oak forest and vegetational associations between pine-oak and arid scrub (previous literature references to occurrance in cloud forest are in error). Occurs at 1585 to 2256 m elevation.
Life History
No data for this species. Most coral snakes are usually nonaggressive, mainly nocturnal, mainly terrestrial (but burrow in loose soil and litter), oviparous (with small clutch sizes), and mainly eat locally available other snakes (are often cannibalistic), lizards, frogs, and invertebrates.
Comments
Nothing known for this species. Most coral snakes have venom which is mainly neurotoxic, and can be injected via a pair of grooved, fixed, upper front fangs. Coral snakes have relatively small mouths and bites to humans usually occur on a toe or finger, and usually when the victim was trying to catch or bother the snake.