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ecoRidge | all galleries >> Endangered Species Mandalas >> Imperiled Species Mandalas >> Reptiles, Amphibians, & Fish > coralsnake1989_Eastern Coral Snake
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02-JAN-2010

coralsnake1989_Eastern Coral Snake

Eastern Coral Snake (Micrurus fulvius fulvius)

Elapid Snake Family (Elapidae)
Eastern coral snake is a slender, venomous, red, black, and yellow snake, usually only reaching 2.5 ft in length. The color rings encircle the body with wide red (frequently mottled with black) and black rings separated by narrow yellow rings. Has a round pupil, black nose followed by a wide yellow ring, and a tail with only black and yellow rings. Its short fangs are fixed at the roof of the mouth. The scales are smooth. Eggs are laid in early summer. Found in the southeastern US in the coastal plain from se NC westward to se LA and southward through FL. It can occur in sandhills, scrub, pine flatwoods, hammocks, sandy creek bottoms, swamp borders, and human-altered habitats. Actively forages mostly on lizards, frogs and other snakes. Very reclusive, spending most of its time underground or in leaf litter. Rarely bites humans unless molested by them. It must chew to inject its venom fully. It venom is a neurotoxic meaning it can cause paralysis and respiratory failure. Its venom rarely kills humans, but can if antivenin is not given. Remember the rhyme to separate the similar non-venomous scarlet snake or scarlet king snake from the eastern coral snake: "red touch black, friend of Jack; red touch yellow, kill a fellow." Also known as American cobra, candy stick, candy cane snake, coral adder, common coral snake, harlequin coral snake, and Florida coral snake. Listed as endangered in NC and species of special concern in SC.


Copyright Brett Miley

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18
1/50s f/3.6 at 16.2mm iso100 full exif

other sizes: small medium original auto
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