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Coral snake

Large group of elapid snakes From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coral snakes are a large group of elapid snakes that can be divided into two distinct groups, the Old World coral snakes and New World coral snakes. There are 27 species of Old World coral snakes, in three genera (Calliophis, Hemibungarus, and Sinomicrurus), and 83 recognized species of New World coral snakes, in two genera (Micruroides and Micrurus). Phylogenetic studies suggest that the group originated in the Old World.[1][2] While new world species of both genera are venomous, their bites are seldom lethal; as of 2018, only two confirmed fatalities had been documented in the United States in the preceding 100 years from the genus Micrurus. Meanwhile, snakes of the genus Micruroides have never caused a medically significant bite.[3]

Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)

Phylum:Chordata
Class:Reptilia
Order:Squamata
Suborder:Serpentes
Quick facts Scientific classification ...
Coral snake
Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)
Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius)
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Superfamily: Elapoidea
Family: Elapidae
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Distribution

New World coral snakes (genera Micruroides and Micrurus) range from the Southern United States to Argentina. Old World coral snakes (genera Calliophis, Hemibungarus, and Sinomicrurus) live in Asia and Africa.[4]

Coral snake showing typically reclusive behavior of hiding under rotting wood. This one was over 75 cm (30 in) long, but less than 25 mm (1 in) across.

Behavior

Coral snakes vary widely in their behavior, but most are very elusive, fossorial (burrowing) snakes which spend most of their time buried beneath the ground or in the leaf litter of a rainforest floor, coming to the surface only when it rains or during breeding season. Some species, like Micrurus surinamensis, are almost entirely aquatic and spend most of their lives in slow-moving bodies of water that have dense vegetation.

Coral snakes feed mostly on smaller snakes, lizards, frogs, nestling birds, small rodents, etc. Tropical species of coral snakes from more mesic areas have a broader diet, feeding on elongate prey like eels and caecilians.[5]

Like all elapid snakes, coral snakes possess a pair of small hollow fangs to deliver their venom. The fangs are positioned at the front of the mouth.[6][7] The fangs are fixed in position rather than retractable, and rather than being directly connected to the venom duct, they have a small groove through which the venom enters the base of the fangs.[8][9] Because the fangs are relatively small and inefficient for venom delivery, rather than biting quickly and letting go like vipers, coral snakes tend to hold onto their prey and make chewing motions when biting.[10][8][11] The neurotoxic venom takes time to reach full effect, affecting the nervous system and weakening the muscles.[12][9]

Coral snakes are not aggressive or prone to biting and account for less than one percent of the total number of snake bites each year in the United States. The life span of coral snakes in captivity is about seven years.[13]

Reproduction

The breeding season occurs from spring to early summer and late summer to early fall.[14] A study investigating how climate influences the reproductive cycle discovered that coral snake species with ranges occurring closer to the equator display more continuous reproductive cycles, while species in colder regions display more seasonal cycles.[15]

Old World

Genus Calliophis

Main article: Calliophis

Species in this genus are:

Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Calliophis.

Genus Hemibungarus

Main article: Hemibungarus

Species in this genus are:

Genus Sinomicrurus

Main article: Sinomicrurus

Species in this genus are:

New World

Genus Micruroides

Genus Micrurus

Nota bene: In the following list, a binomial authority or a trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Micrurus.

Mimicry

New World coral snakes serve as models for their Batesian mimics, false coral snakes, snake species whose venom is less toxic, as well as for many nonvenomous snake species that bear superficial resemblances to them. Research shows that coral snake color patterns deter predators from attacking snake-shaped prey,[16][17] and that in the absence of coral snakes, species mimicking coral snakes are indeed attacked more frequently.[18] Species that appear visually similar to coral snakes include:

References

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