Mayan Coral Snake

The Mayan coral snake is limited to southern Belize and northeastern Guatemala.

Mayan Coral Snake (Micrurus hippocrepis)

Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Mayan coral snake, bead and coral, coral de Belize, coralillo

Distinguishing Features

Small tri colored coral snake, adults usually 50 to 65 cm long (max. 71 cm). Head and neck with alternating yellow and black rings (ybyby). Body pattern consists of moderately to very broad red rings alternating with 9 to 24 much narrower black rings (often incomplete), which are bordered with narrower yellow rings. Tail with 4 to 6 black rings.

Geographical Range

Limited to southern Belize and northeastern Guatemala.

Habitat

Mainly found in tropical wet and moist forest (lowland rainforest), from sea level up to 1,000 m elevation.

Life History

Mainly nocturnal and terrestrial (or burrowing in loose substrate). May be active during cooler parts of the day (early morning and late afternoon). Usually are nonaggressive. Oviparous (clutch size not reported), prey mainly on locally available snakes, lizards and invertebrates.

Comments

Not much known. Venom of most species of coral snakes is mainly neurotoxic. Most bites of humans occur during attempt to capture the snake. No serious envenomations or human deaths reported, yet, due to the bite of this species.