Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius)

 

              

Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family:    Elapidae
Size:    Length: 2 to 4 feet (61 to 122 cm)
Weight: Unknown
Diet: Other snakes, birds, frogs, fish, insects and lizards
Distribution: North America
Young:  5 to 7 eggs
Animal Predators:  Unknown
IUCN Status: No special status
Terms: No special terms
Lifespan: Captive coral snakes live up to seven years

 

Facts/Trivia:

·       Coral snakes are the only venomous snakes in North America to lay eggs.

·       Several species of harmless snakes mimic coral snakes in colour and pattern to discourage predators.

·       The eastern coral snake is also known as the harlequin snake.

·       Coral snakes belong to the same family as cobras and mambas.

 

Description

Coral snakes are highly venomous snakes marked with red, black and yellow stripes. They are often confused with harmless snakes that have similar stripes—most coral imitators (milk snakes) have black stripes in between the red and the yellow. A good rule to remember in most cases is the rhyme, “Red touching yellow, dangerous fellow.” The organ pipe shovel-nosed snake is one exception to this rule, but it is still possible to tell them apart—coral snakes have a black snout followed by a yellow stripe, while the organ pipe has a yellow snout followed by a black stripe. 

 

Habitat

Eastern coral snakes can be found in the United States from North Carolina, south to Florida and as far west as Texas. They can also be found in northeastern Mexico. Other species of coral snakes are found in western North America, Central America and South America. Eastern coral snakes can usually be found in woodlands.

 

Feeding Habits

Corals eat other snakes (including other coral snakes), birds, frogs, fish, insects and lizards, killing them with their venom.

 

Reproduction

Approximately 35 days after mating, from late spring to early summer, coral snakes lay their eggs. The eggs hatch two months later. At birth, the young snakes already have the colourful markings of their parents. 

 

Behaviour

Coral snakes are venomous but are not known to attack humans in the wild—they are far more likely to scurry away when someone approaches. They spend much of their time under loose soil, leaves, rocks or fallen trees. When threatened, coral snakes will flatten their bodies to look larger and swing their tail in the air to confuse predators as to at which end their head is located. Most bites occur when captive snakes are handled improperly or when wild snakes are grabbed or restrained (usually by children who are attracted to their vibrant colours). Untreated bites have a 10 percent fatality rate and death will occur in approximately 24 hours. People sometimes do not get treatment because the bite seems small, and at first, the victim will only experience a small amount of pain and swelling.

 

Conservation

Coral snakes are not of conservation concern. 

 

Sources

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/micrurus/m._fulvius$narrative.html

http://pelotes.jea.com/AnimalFact/Reptile/vensnake.htm

http://www.terowieru.sa.edu.au/studentfolders/shawn/snakepage.htm

http://museum.nhm.uga.edu/gawildlife/reptiles/squamata/serpentes/elapidae/mfulvius.html

http://www.myherp.com/articles/species%20spotlight/coral.htm

http://home.ptd.net/~insect/reptiles.html

http://www.snakesandfrogs.com

Coral Snake Wildlife Fact File, IM Pub, US