Coral Snake
Coral snakes are typically brightly colored, with striking striped patterns. Though their bite is venomous, they are usually not aggressive and prefer to avoid humans rather than bite them.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genera: Micrurus, Micruroides
Species: Over 60 species in the genus Micrurus, and one in the genus Micruroides (M. euryxanthus)
Common Names: Coral Snake, “American Cobra”
Most species of coral snake spend most of their time trying to remain hidden, burrowing beneath the ground or amongst the leaves and twigs of the forest floor. They are reclusive and non-aggressive, preferring to avoid humans rather than confront and bite them. However, they will bite if provoked or cornered.
Coral snakes feed on small animals, such as rodents, frogs, birds, lizards, and smaller snakes.
Coral snakes are oviparous, meaning they lay eggs. The average clutch of eggs is between five and seven, and they incubate for around two months before hatching.
Coral snakes are known for their striking coloration, which often (but not always) consists of red, yellow, and black rings circling the length of the body. They are usually around three feet in length, though some may grow as long as five feet.
Coral snakes have small fangs in the front of their mouths. Unlike the fangs of vipers like rattlesnakes, which are hinged and fold outward when the snake strikes, those of the coral snake are fixed in one position.
Coral snakes are sometimes called “American cobras” because, like the cobras of Asia and Africa, they are both venomous snakes in the family Elapidae. However, coral snakes lack the flattened “hood” that cobras are known for showcasing in their defensive posture.
In the United States, most species of coral snake exhibit a pattern where the black and red bands are separated by yellow bands in between, leading to a rhyming verse: “Red touch yellow, kill a fellow, red touch black, friend of Jack”. This verse is meant to help distinguish venomous coral snakes from nonvenomous snakes that feature similar coloration and patterning, but with a different arrangement. Kingsnakes, milksnakes, scarlet snakes, and some species of hognose snake all have patterns that mimic the coral snake.
However, it should be noted that this rhyme is not always accurate, particularly regarding some species of coral snake found in Central and South America. While the rhyme can be helpful in certain situations, it should not be the only resource to identify coral snakes.
Coral snake venom is quite potent, but due to the coral snake’s non-aggressive demeanor and overall avoidance of humans, coupled with their small fangs, dangerous bites are quite rare. They typically prefer to flee when confronted by humans, and will only bite if prevented from escaping. While bites are rarely life threatening, anyone bitten by a coral snake should seek medical attention.
Most species of coral snake are considered Least Concern, with no imminent danger of extinction. However, some species in Central and South America (such as the Catamayo coral snake and the Merida coral snake) are considered Endangered, and a few (such as the Roatan coral snake and the Villavicencio coral snake) are Critically Endangered.
Coral snakes are generally not Endangered in the United States, but some local populations are threatened, such as the Eastern coral snake population of North Carolina.
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_snake
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micruroides
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micrurus_fulvius
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micrurus
https://www.britannica.com/animal/coral-snake
https://a-z-animals.com/animals/coral-snake/
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