Dumeril's Coral Snake

The Dumeril's coral snake is found in Northwestern Venezuela, Northwestern Colombia, Northern Ecuador, Southeastern Panama.

Dumeril's Coral Snake (Micrurus dumerilii)

Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Dumeril's coral snake

Distinguishing Features

Medium sized tri colored coral, adults usually 50 to 70 cm long (max. 94.8 cm); Body pattern variable; usually with very broad red rings separated by a series of 10-27 single fairly broad black rings narrowly bordered by yellow (rybyr) or up to 14 triads (ybybyby). In some specimens, red bands are much duller, with most red scaled black at tip, and appear "dusky," yellow bands may be so pale they are almost white. Tail with 4 to 10 black rings alternating with yellow.

Geographical Range

Found in Northwestern Venezuela, Northwestern Colombia, Northern Ecuador, Southeastern Panama.

Habitat

Found mainly in lower montane wet forest, tropical rainforest, tropical dry forest, and thorn forest; often found near rivers in less humid areas. Mainly below 600 m elevation, but has been reported up to 2,150 m in Colombia.

Life History

Not much known. Probably mainly nocturnal and terrestrial (maybe semi fossorial). Coral snakes usually are nonaggressive, oviparous (typically less than 15 eggs per clutch), and eat locally available lizards, invertebrates and other small snakes.

Comments

Not well known, but probably potent, mainly neurotoxic venom, which is injected through a pair of grooved, fixed upper front fangs. Due to the small size of their mouths, coral snakes' bites to humans usually occur on a toe or finger, and usually during an attempt to catch the snake. This species reportedly inflicts many bites on humans annually within its range. No well documented human fatalities, so far.