Langdorff's Coral Snake

The Langdorff's coral snake is found in southern Colombia, northern Peru, northwestern Brazil, Upper Amazon, southern Venezuela, and southern Ecuador.

Langdorff's Coral Snake (Micrurus langsdorfii)

Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Langsdorff�s coral snake, cobra-coral, coralillo, naca-naca, serpiente de coral

Distinguishing Features

Medium sized coral snake, usually 3 colored (sometimes 2 colored), adults usually 45 to 65 cm long (max. 77 cm); Appearance variable; body pattern usually with 18 to 47 fairly broad red rings alternating with 36 to 91 narrower rings of yellow, brown, or maroon (but no truly black rings), each ring separated from the next by a narrow dorsal row of 5 to 8 white spots (becomes a narrow white ring on belly). Tail with 5 to 11 red rings. Polychromatic populations have been reported.

Geographical Range

This species is found in southern Colombia, northern Peru, northwestern Brazil, Upper Amazon, southern Venezuela, and southern Ecuador.

Habitat

Found mainly in lower montane wet forest and lowland rainforest; primary and secondary semi-open forests and border areas; usually at 80 to 500 m elevation, but has been collected at 1,500 m elevation. Seems to be most common in sites with accummulations of riparian leaf litter.

Life History

Not much known. Probably mainly nocturnal and terrestrial, but routinely burrows in leaf litter, if that is present. Like most coral snakes, this species is usually not aggressive. Oviparous (litter size not reported, but probably is less than 15 eggs). Mainly eats other snakes (may be cannibalistic), lizards, amphibians and possibly also invertebrates, especially when young.

Comments

Has potent neurotoxic venom that can be injected through a pair of grooved, fixed frontal 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 capture or molest the snake. Few huamn bites and no serious envenomations of humans reported as caused by this species, but still should be considered a health threat.