Southern Coralsnake

About the Southern Coralsnake

Micrurus frontalis, also known commonly as the short-tailed coral snake, the southern coral snake, cobra coral de rabo curto in Brazilian Portuguese, and coral cola corta in South American Spanish, is a species of highly venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to eastern South America. There are no recognized subspecies.

Large for its genus, Micrurus frontalis grows on average to a total length (tail included) of 75 cm (30 in), with a maximum reported total length of 164 cm (65 in). Many adults are 65–100 cm (26–39 in) in total length. The color of the head varies, with a gray pigment on the top of the snout. The body pattern consists of very wide red rings that are separated by a series of 10–15 narrower black triads. Each triad consists of three black rings separated by white rings. The red dorsal scales have black tips. The tail has two complete triads.

In this species of New World coral snake there is little difference in scale counts between sexes. Males have 213–230 ventrals and 19–25 subcaudals, and females have 218–232 ventrals and 19–22 subcaudals. Micrurus frontalis is a nocturnal, terrestrial, and fossorial snake, which... Wikipedia →