A widespread brightly ringed neotropical elapid with potent neurotoxic venom, common in moist forests across Central and northern South America.
Description
The Central American coral snake is a slim elapid usually around 80 cm with bold rings of red, black, and yellow circling the body. Its head is glossy black, and the bright pattern serves as a warning of dangerous venom — copied by many harmless mimic species.
Behavior
Coral snakes spend most of their time hidden under leaf litter and rotten logs, hunting smaller snakes and amphisbaenians. The small front fangs require a holding bite to inject venom, but the neurotoxin causes severe paralysis and bites must be treated as emergencies.
Range
Distributed from southern Mexico through Central America to northwest Colombia. About 75 Micrurus species occur across the New World, replacing each other geographically and producing one of the most diverse mimicry systems in vertebrates.