Coral snake

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General Information

The coral snakes (Micrurus and Micruroides) are two genera of about 65 snake species, found in tropical South America and southern USA. They are venomous and related to Old World cobras, and are the most venomous snake in the New World. Most notable are their red, yellow and black colored bands. This contrasts to the bands of coral snake mimics, such as the Scarlet King Snake, which are red, black, and yellow. In some regions, the order of bands distinguishes between the non-venomous mimics and the venomous coral snakes - "red and yellow will kill a fellow, but red and black, poisons lack" While it is popularly believed that only coral snakes ever have red bands touching yellow bands, this is only true in the Southeastern United States.

Like other elapids, coral snakes use small, hollow, fixed fangs that do not retract to deliver a neurotoxic venom. Because of this, coral snakes have a tendency to hold on while biting, instead of administering venom with a quick strike in the manner of snakes with retractable fangs. This holding action can administer large amounts of venom at once. However, coral snakes are usually not aggressive and bites from coral snakes make up only about 1% of venomous snake bites in America.

Immediate medical attention is necessary in the case of a bite from a coral snake. However, anti-venom does not exist for every species of coral snake.

Species

Micruroides euryxanthus (Western Coral Snake) - lowland regions from Arizona to Sinaloa
Micrurus alleni (Allen's Coral Snake) - eastern Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Micrurus altirostris - Brazil, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina
Micrurus ancoralis (Regal Coral Snake) - southeastern Panama, western Colombia, and western Ecuador
Micrurus annellatus (Annellated Coral Snake) - southeastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, Bolivia, and western Brazil
Micrurus bernadi - Mexico
Micrurus bocourti (Ecuador Coral Snake) - western Ecuador to northern Colombia
Micrurus bogerti (Bogert's Coral Snake) - Oaxaca
Micrurus browni (Brown's Coral Snake) - Quintana Roo to Honduras
Micrurus camilae - Colombia
Micrurus catamayensis(Catamayo Coral Snake) - Catamayo Valley of Ecuador
Micrurus clarki (Clark's Coral Snake) - southeastern Costa Rica to western Colombia
Micrurus collaris (Guyana Blackback Coral Snake) - northern South America
Micrurus frontalis (Southern Coral Snake) - Brazil to northeastern Argentina
Micrurus fulvius (Eastern Coral Snake) - coastal plains of North Carolina to Louisiana
Micrurus lemniscatus (South American Coral Snake) - northern Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, eastern Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Surinam, eastern Peru, Argentina Trinidad, and Venezuela
Micrurus nigrocinctus (Central American Coral Snake) - Yucatan and Chiapas to Colombia as well as western Caribbean islands
Micrurus tamaulipensis (Tamaulipan Coral Snake) - Sierra Madre Oriental in Tamaulipas
Micrurus tener (Texas Coral Snake) - Texas and Louisiana south to Morelos and Guanajuato