Eastern Coral Snake

Micrurus fulvius

Venom Status:

Venomous

 

Characteristics:

VIRULENTLY VENOMOUS, the coral snake is an elapine species, a relative of the fabled cobras and kraits. This 2 to 3 foot long, slender, burrowing species can be and has been confused with other tricolored snakes such as various kingsnakes and the scarlet snake. In most cases, the coral snake does have the 2 caution colors, red and yellow, touching. There are often black scales in the red field.The nose is black. Scales in 15 rows, anal plate divided. Oviparous, up to a dozen eggs have been documented in a clutch. The rhyme red to yellow kills a fellow, red to black venom lack, does not always work. Coral snakes can be aberrantly colored (even longitudinally striped) rendering the rhyme useless. Some coral snakes from the Upper Florida Keys lack most or all of the yellow rings. The coral snake is not a “rear-fanged” species. Although the fangs are short and are not hinged like those of the pit vipers, the coral snake is front-fanged and this snake can bite wherever on the body its nose may come in contact.

 

Unique Features:

In most cases the 2 caution colors, red and yellow, do touch and the nose is black. In combination this should identify the venomous coral snake

 

Habitat and Diet:

This snake inhabits all manner of woodlands, tropical hammocks, irrigated lots and yards. Slender lizards, like glass lizards, and small snakes

 

Geographic Range:

FL, GA, SC, AL, NC, LA, MS,