Stuart's Coral Snake

The Stuart's coral snake is limited to the pacific versant of southwestern Guatemala.

Stuart's Coral Snake (Micrurus stuarti)

Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae (fixed front- fang venomous snakes)
Other common names: Stuart's coral snake, coralillo, coral de los volcanes, coral de Stuart

Distinguishing Features

Medium sized tricolored coral snake, adults usually about 50 to 60 cm long (max. 74+ cm). Body patterned with 13 to 19 alternating relatively broad black rings and very broad red rings, separated by very narrow yellow rings (rybyr). Dorsal smooth scales of red rings usually with black tips or spots. Tail usually with 3 or 4 wide black rings, separated by narrow brownish red rings, and a black tip. Known from only a very few specimens (some preserved).

Geographical Range

Limited to the pacific versant of southwestern Guatemala. May also occur in similar habitats in adjacent southeastern Mexico, but no specimens verified from there, so far.

Habitat

Mainly found in subtropical wet forest and lower montane wet forest. Only known specimen with elevation data was collected at 1,350 m elevation.

Life History

Not much known. Like most known species of coral snakes, this species is probably mainly nocturnal or crepuscular (active at dusk or dawn), terrestrial (and may burrow in loose soil and leaf litter), is oviparous (with small number of eggs per clutch), and preys mainly on other snakes, lizards, amphibians and possibly invertebrates.

Comments

Not much known. Most coral snake species have highly potent neurotoxic venom which can be 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, finger, or webbing between such digits; and usually during attempts to catch or molest the snake. No serious human envenomations or fatalities reported due to bites by this species, so far.