Panamenian Coralsnake

About the Panamenian Coralsnake

Micrurus stewarti, also known commonly as the Panamanian coral snake, the Panamenian coral snake, and coral panameña in New World Spanish, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Panama.

The specific name, stewarti, is in honor of Thomas H. Stewart Jr., United States Army Medical Corps, who collected the holotype. The specific name of the synonym, schmidti, is in honor of American herpetoogist Karl Patterson Schmidt, who had a special interest in coral snakes.

Micrurus stewarti is medium-sized for its genus. Adults usually have a total length (tail included) of 50–70 cm (20–28 in). The maximum recorded total length is 83 cm (33 in). M. stewarti is a bi-colored New World coral snake. Its color pattern consists of only red and black rings. There are no yellow or white rings present. The black rings are usually unequal in width, alternating wider and narrower. The red rings are 2–4 dorsals and 3–6 ventrals wide. The wider black rings are 8–14 dorsals and 7–12 ventrals wide, and the narrower black rings are 5–11 dorsals wide. There are 13–25 black rings on the body.

Males have 200–207 ventrals and 50–55 subcaudals... Wikipedia →