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Squamata, Serpentes: Elapidae, Genus Micrurus, Etc.- Coral Snakes
There are six genera of snakes that are commonly called Coral Snakes and appear to be related to each other. In Asia Calliophis (5 species), Hemibungarus (at least 2 species), and Sinomicrurus (at least 3 species). Slowinski et al. (2001, Herpetologica 57:233-245) used morphology and mtDNA to demonstrate that these snakes formed three clades (each genera), and that they were not monophyletic unless the New World Coral Snakes Micrurus and Micruroides were included. Thus, the New World Coral Snakes had an Asian ancestor that they shared with the Asian genus Sinomicrurus. Coral Snakes tend to have small heads, most are fossorial, but a few show tendencies toward climbing or being aquatic. New World Coral Snakes have 15 or 17 rows of scales at mid body, Asian coral snakes tend to have 13 or 15 rows of scales at mid body. Most species are brightly colored or have strongly contrasting patterns that are aposematic (warn predators of their venomous nature). When they are disturbed, they tend to thrash their bodies and tails from side to side, coil and flatten their tails, and hide their head under a body coil. Coral snakes tend to feed on other snakes, or other elongated, cold blooded prey. Coral Snakes have many mimics in the family Colubridae; and, in the USA it is commonly said that "red and black is nice to Jack, red and yellow kills a fellow." However, this simplistic way to distinguish colubrid mimics from Coral Snakes only works in the USA where there are only two species of coral snakes. Coral Snakes tend to have very toxic venom, but they also tend to have small heads and short fangs. Human deaths from Coral Snake bites do occur.
Trinidad Coral Snake, Micrurus circinalis

Trinidad Coral Snake, Micrurus circinalis (Dumeril and Bibron, 1854). Photographed in Trinidad's Arima Valley. Maximum adult size 530 mm. Habitat includes forests, secondary forests, forest edges, agroecosystems, gardens and yards. Feeds on small snakes, particularly, Ninia. Endemic to Trinidad and adjacent Venezuela.

The South American Coral Snake, Micrurus lemniscatus

The South American Coral Snake, Micrurus lemniscatus (Linnaeus, 1758). Photographed in Trinidad's Arima Valley. The snake in the photographs is referable to the subspecies M. l. diutis Burger, 1955. Adult maximum size may reach 1.45 m. It lives in rainforests and forest edge environments, as well as savannas. Often it can be found near houses and in agricultural areas, and it does not hesitate to enter the water. It seems likely that this is a species complex. Currently it is considered a widespread species that is found on the slopes of the Andes and the in the water sheds of the Orinoco and Guiana Shield, as well as coastal Brazil, it therefore avoids the Amazon Basin. There are four subspecies recognized, and M. l. diutis appears to be sympatric with M. l. lemniscatus in French Guiana, therefore this may be a distinct species. It is known to feed on snakes and synbranchid eels. One female from Trinidad contained two eggs. This snake has caused human deaths.

The South American Coral Snake, Micrurus lemniscatus
Central American Coral Snake, Micrurus nigrocinctus

Central American Coral Snake, Micrurus nigrocinctus (Girard, 1855). Photographed in northeast Cost Rica. This specimen is probably referable to the subspecies M. n. mosquitensis Schmidt, 1933. It was found in secondary rainforest forest under a large boulder eating a Sibon nebulata. The Central American Coral Snake ranges from Oaxaca, Mexico and northwest Honduras southward to Columbia. It is found from sea level to 1500 m in lowland and premontane forests and will enter gardens and yards, as well as agroecosystems. It is known to feed on caecilians, as well as lizards and snakes. The third photograph illustrates the tail display used by this snake, note that the tail is both flattened and coiled

Central American Coral Snake, Micrurus nigrocinctus
tail display, Central American Coral Snake, Micrurus nigrocinctus
Sonoran Coral Snake, Micruroides euryxanthus

The Sonoran Coral Snake, Micruroides euryxanthus (Kennicott, 1861). Photograph of a captive specimen. It ranges from central Arizona southward to Sonora, southwest Chihuahua, and possibly western Durango. It commonly uses desert, mesquite savanna, tropical deciduous forest, thornforest, and lower pine forest. ANd, it is frequently associated with river bottoms and arroyos. Adults are 300-400 mm, but maximum size is about 550 mm. Food includes small snakes and lizards, and females lay small (2-3) clutches of egg.This is the most basal coral snake, and is the sister to Leptomicrurus, and all of the snakes in the genus Micrurus.
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