Speckled Coral Snake

The Speckled coral snake is found in the vicinity of the confluence of the Rios Santiago and Maranon in Amazonas, Peru.

Speckled Coral Snake (Micrurus margaritiferus)

Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Speckled coral snake, coral salpicada, naca-naca

Distinguishing Features

Small to medium-sized 2 colored coral snake, max. adult length is 77.3 cm. Head mostly black, with a few small white markings. Body is black dorsally, interrupted by numerous paired narrow transverse rows of white dots. Some specimens have belly tricolored with black-white-brown-white-black (blk-w-brn-w-blk)sequences of rings (crossbands).

Geographical Range

Known only from vicinity of the confluence of the Rios Santiago and Maranon in Amazonas, Peru. May occur in similar habitat in adjacent southeastern Ecuador, but no specimens documented from there, so far.

Habitat

Found mainly in lower montane wet forest and tropical rainforest at 200 to 400 m elevation.

Life History

Not much known. Probably mainly nocturnal and terrestrial (and probably burrows into soft soil and litter). Most coral snakes are usually not aggressive; most bites occur during attempts to capture or molest the snake. Probably oviparous (not reported) and probably preys on locally available other snakes, lizards, frogs and invertebrates.

Comments

Not much known. Most species of coral snakes have highly potent neurotoxic venom (often with other factors), which can be injected through grooved, fixed front fangs. Due to their small mouths, coral snakes' bites on humans usually occur on a finger or toe or webbing between such digits.