Coral snakes are a large group of

elapid Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids , from , variant of "sea-fish") is a family (biology), family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth. Most elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus ...

snakes Snakes are elongated Limbless vertebrate, limbless reptiles of the suborder Serpentes (). Cladistically Squamata, squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping Scale (zoology), scales much like other members of ...

that can be divided into two distinct groups, the Old World coral snakes and

New World The term "New World" is used to describe the majority of lands of Earth's Western Hemisphere, particularly the Americas, and sometimes Oceania."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: ...

coral snakes. There are 27

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of Old World coral snakes, in three

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

('' Calliophis'', '' Hemibungarus'', and '' Sinomicrurus''), and 83 recognized species of New World coral snakes, in two genera ('' Micruroides'' and '' Micrurus''). Genetic studies have found that the most basal lineages have origins in Asia, suggesting that the group originated in the Old World. While new world species of both genera are venomous, their bites are seldom lethal; only two confirmed fatalities have been documented in the past 100 years from the genus ''Micrurus''. Meanwhile, snakes of the genus ''Micruroides'' have never caused a medically significant bite.

North American coloration patterns

Experts now recognize that certain coloration patterns and common mnemonics—such as the phrase “Red against yellow, deadly fellow; red against black, friendly Jack,” which people sometimes use to distinguish between the venomous coral snake and the non-venomous milksnake—are not consistent enough to be trustworthy. While any snake exhibiting the coral snake's color and/or banding pattern in the southeastern United States will almost certainly, in fact, be a coral snake, there are coral snakes in other parts of the world that are colored differently. Coral snakes in the United States are most notable for their red, yellow/white, and black-colored banding. However, several nonvenomous species in the U.S. have similar (though not identical) bandings, including the two scarlet snake species in the genus '' Cemophora'', and some of the kingsnakes (including the aforementioned milksnakes) in the genus ''Lampropeltis''. However, in reference to the mnemonic phrase “red touching yellow, a deadly fellow,” some of these kingsnakes do not naturally display any red touching yellow, to begin with. Additionally, some ground snakes in the genus ''

Sonora Sonora (), officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora (), is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the Administrative divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is divided into Municipalities of Sonora, 72 ...

'' (of the southwestern U.S.) can have a color pattern that matches that of the sympatric Sonoran coral snake (''Micruroides euryxanthus''). No genuine coral snake in the U.S. exhibits red bands of color, in contact with bands of black, except in rare cases of an aberrant pattern. Thus, while on extremely rare occasions when a certain non-venomous snake might be mistaken for a coral snake, the mnemonic holds true. However, a red–yellow–black banded snake in the U.S. (whose red and black banding actually touch) is rarely a venomous coral snake. Furthermore, the mnemonic is not consistently accurate for North American coral snake species found south of the U.S., either. Some species, like Mexico’s Oaxacan coral snake (''Micrurus ephippifer'') or Clark's coral snake (''Micrurus clarki'', of Costa Rica & Panama), do actually fit the mnemonic; others, like the Honduran Roatan coral snake (''Micrurus ruatanus''), or the redtail coral snake (''Micrurus mipartitus'') of Panama, do not. Further still, some South American coral snakes will fit the mnemonic, while others do not. To complicate the issue more, the South American tricolored hognose snake (''Xenodon pulcher'') has repeated bands of red-black-white-black, imitating the coral snake as a defense mechanism, with the key visual difference being their upturned snout (used for burrowing). The hognoses are, actually, mildly rear-fanged venomous; although generally not considered serious to humans, anecdotal research has suggested the South American hognoses to possess slightly more potent venom than the North American hognoses. In the Old World, none of the coral snake species usually fit the mnemonic. Most species of coral snake are small in size. North American species average around in length, but specimens of up to or slightly larger have been reported. Some coral snakes even live in the water but most of them do not. Aquatic species have flattened tails that act as fins, aiding in swimming.

Behavior

Coral snakes vary widely in their behavior, but most are very elusive, fossorial (burrowing) snakes which spend most of their time buried beneath the ground or in the leaf litter of a

rainforest Rainforests are forests characterized by a closed and continuous tree Canopy (biology), canopy, moisture-dependent vegetation, the presence of epiphytes and lianas and the absence of wildfire. Rainforests can be generally classified as tropi ...

floor, coming to the surface only when it rains or during breeding season. Some species, like ''Micrurus surinamensis'', are almost entirely aquatic and spend most of their lives in slow-moving bodies of water that have dense vegetation. Coral snakes feed mostly on smaller snakes, lizards, frogs, nestling birds, small rodents, etc. Like all elapid snakes, coral snakes possess a pair of small hollow fangs to deliver their venom. The fangs are positioned at the front of the mouth. The fangs are fixed in position rather than retractable, and rather than being directly connected to the venom duct, they have a small groove through which the venom enters the base of the fangs. Because the fangs are relatively small and inefficient for venom delivery, rather than biting quickly and letting go (like vipers), coral snakes tend to hold onto their prey and make chewing motions when biting. The venom takes time to reach full effect. It is a neurotoxin, affecting the lymphatic nervous system and weakening the muscles. Coral snakes are not aggressive or prone to biting and account for less than one percent of the total number of snake bites each year in the United States. The life span of coral snakes in captivity is about seven years.

Reproduction

''M. fulvius'' reproduction is internal fertilization through the use of hemipenes. The breeding season occurs from spring to early summer and late summer to early fall. Male combat is not typical in ''M. fulvius'' as males are smaller than females. ''Micrurus fulvius'' are oviparous and typically lay eggs from May to July. During early spring females will undergo sudden vitellogenesis–oocyte and yolk formation–in preparation for breeding. Approximately 37 days post fertilization oviposition occurs and the average clutch size ranges from five to seven eggs. However, some in captivity have laid as many as thirteen eggs. The incubation period of the ''M. fulvius'' eggs normally reaches 60 days. Males also undergo sexual changes throughout the year, testicular recrudescence start in the fall and testicular regression occurs come spring. However, males typically have mature sperm residing in the epididymis year round and are capable of storing sperm in the deferent duct over the winter till the females are receptive. A study investigating how climate influences the reproductive cycle discovered species found closer to the equator displayed more continuous cycles while those in colder regions had more seasonal cycles. With increasing temperatures as a result of climate change, continuous cycles have the possibility of becoming more prevalent. Offspring reach maturation depending on sex, males mature at roughly 11 to 16 months while females reach maturity later at 26 months.

Distribution (U.S.)

New World coral snakes exist in the southern range of many temperate U.S. states. Coral snakes are found in scattered localities in the southern coastal plains from North Carolina to Louisiana, including all of Florida. They can be found in pine and scrub oak sandhill habitats in parts of this range, but sometimes inhabit hardwood areas and pine flatwoods that undergo seasonal flooding. There is controversy about the classification of the very similar Texas coral snake as a separate species. Its habitat, in Texas, Louisiana, and Arkansas is separated from the eastern coral snake's habitat by the Mississippi River. The coral snake population is most dense in the southeastern United States. The Arizona coral snake is classified as a separate species and genus and is found in central and southern Arizona, extreme southwestern New Mexico and southward to Sinaloa in western Mexico. It occupies arid and semiarid regions in many different habitat types, including thornscrub, desert-scrub, woodland, grassland and farmland. It is found in the plains and lower mountain slopes, at elevations ranging from sea level to ; often found in rocky areas.

Danger to humans

New World coral snakes possess one of the most potent venoms of any North American snake. However, relatively few bites are recorded due to their reclusive nature and the fact they generally inhabit sparsely populated areas. Even in areas that are densely populated, bites are rare. According to the American National Institutes of Health, there are an average of 15–25 coral snake bites in the United States each year. When confronted by humans, coral snakes will almost always attempt to flee, and bite only if restrained. In addition, coral snakes have short fangs ( proteroglyph dentition) that cannot penetrate thick clothing although bites are possible through normal thin clothing. Any skin penetration, however, is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Historically, the venom of the North American ''Micrurus'' and ''Micruroides'' species was believed to contain powerful neurotoxins which could paralyze the breathing muscles, requiring mechanical or artificial respiration. It was usually reported that there was only mild pain associated with a bite and that respiratory failure could occur and onset of clinical symptoms may be delayed for as much as 10 to 18 hours. Coral snake venom contains a neurotoxic component and symptoms include pain from the bite, sialorrhea, paresthesia, ptosis, weakness, blurred vision, paralysis, fasciculation and diplopia. However recent studies on the bites of the Texas coral snake (''Micrurus tener)'' have shown that these bites rarely require antivenom, don't usually show any systemic respiratory problems and can be intensely painful. Further studies are necessary to see if these clinical features are true of all ''Micrurus'' species. Body length in coral snakes appears to be positively associated with venom yield. Shortages of coral snake antivenom were previously reported, but one source states that production has resumed and, Pfizer indicates that antivenom is available.

Old World

Genus ''Calliophis''

Species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

in this genus are: *'' Calliophis beddomei'' ( M.A. Smith, 1943) – Beddome's coral snake (

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) *'' Calliophis bibroni'' ( Jan, 1858) – Bibron's coral snake (India) *'' Calliophis bilineatus'' *'' Calliophis bivirgatus'' ( F. Boie, 1827) – blue Malaysian coral snake (

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) *'' Calliophis castoe'' E.N. Smith, Ogale, Deepak & Giri, 2012 – Castoe's coral snake (India) *'' Calliophis gracilis'' ( Gray, 1835) – spotted coral snake (Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore) *'' Calliophis haematoetron'' E.N. Smith, Manamendra-Arachchi & Somaweera, 2008 – blood-bellied coral snake (

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

) *'' Calliophis intestinalis'' ( Laurenti, 1768) – banded Malaysian coral snake (

) *'' Calliophis maculiceps'' ( Günther, 1858) – speckled coral snake (

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

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Laos Laos, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR), is the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by Myanmar and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, and Thailand to the west and ...

) *'' Calliophis melanurus'' ( Shaw, 1802) – Indian coral snake (

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) *'' Calliophis nigrescens'' (Günther, 1862) – black coral snake (India) *'' Calliophis nigrotaeniatus'' *'' Calliophis philippinus'' *'' Calliophis salitan'' R.M. Brown, Smart, Leviton & E.N. Smith, 2018 – Dinagat Island Banded Coralsnake (Philippines) *'' Calliophis suluensis'' '' Nota bene'': A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than ''Calliophis''.

Genus ''Hemibungarus''

Species in this genus are: *'' Hemibungarus calligaster'' ( Wiegmann, 1835) – barred coral snake (

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) *'' Hemibungarus gemianulis'' W. Peters, 1872 – (Philippines) *'' Hemibungarus mcclungi''

Genus ''Sinomicrurus''

Species in this genus are: *'' Sinomicrurus annularis'' *'' Sinomicrurus boettgeri'' *'' Sinomicrurus iwasakii'' *'' Sinomicrurus japonicus'' (Günther, 1868) – Japanese coral snake (

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) *'' Sinomicrurus kelloggi'' (

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, 1928) – Kellogg's coral snake (

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

) *'' Sinomicrurus macclellandi'' ( J.T. Reinhardt, 1844) – Macclelland's coral snake (

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) *'' Sinomicrurus peinani'' *'' Sinomicrurus sauteri'' ( Steindachner, 1913) (Taiwan) *'' Sinomicrurus swinhoei''

New World

Genus '' Micruroides''

*'' Micruroides euryxanthus'' ( Kennicott, 1860) – Arizona coral snake (lowland regions from

Arizona Arizona is a U.S. state, state in the Southwestern United States, Southwestern region of the United States, sharing the Four Corners region of the western United States with Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. It also borders Nevada to the nort ...

to Sinaloa,

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) **'' Micruroides euryxanthus australis'' Zweifel & Norris, 1955 **'' Micruroides euryxanthus euryxanthus'' ( Kennicott, 1860) **'' Micruroides euryxanthus neglectus'' Roze, 1967

Genus '' Micrurus''

'' Nota bene'': In the following list, a binomial authority or a trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than ''Micrurus''. *'' Micrurus albicinctus'' Amaral, 1925 – White-banded Coral Snake *'' Micrurus alleni'' K.P. Schmidt, 1936 – Allen's coral snake (eastern

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, Costa Rica, and Panama) **''Micrurus alleni alleni'' K.P. Schmidt, 1936 **''Micrurus alleni richardi'' Edward Harrison Taylor, Taylor, 1951 **''Micrurus alleni yatesi'' Taylor, 1954 *''Micrurus altirostris'' (Edward Drinker Cope, Cope, 1860) (Brazil, Uruguay, and northeastern Argentina) *''Micrurus ancoralis'' Jan, 1872 – regal coral snake (southeastern Panama, western Colombia, and western Ecuador) **''Micrurus ancoralis ancoralis'' Jan 1872 **''Micrurus ancoralis jani'' K.P. Schmidt, 1936 *''Micrurus annellatus'' ( W. Peters, 1871) – annellated coral snake (southeastern Ecuador, eastern Peru, Bolivia, and western Brazil) **''Micrurus annellatus annellatus'' (W. Peters, 1871) **''Micrurus annellatus balzanii'' (George Albert Boulenger, Boulenger, 1898) **''Micrurus annellatus bolivianus'' Roze, 1967 *''Micrurus averyi'' K.P. Schmidt, 1939 – black-headed coral snake *''Micrurus baliocoryphus'' (Cope, 1860) – Mesopotamian coral snake *''Micrurus bernadi'' (Cope, 1887) (

) *''Micrurus bocourti'' (Jan 1872) – Ecuadorian coral snake (western Ecuador to northern Colombia) *''Micrurus bogerti'' Roze, 1967 – Charles Mitchill Bogert, Bogert's coral snake (Oaxaca) *''Micrurus boicora'' species:Paulo Sérgio Bernarde, Bernarde, species:Luiz Carlos Batista Turci, Turci, species:Arthur Diesel Abegg, Abegg & species:Francisco Luís Franco, Franco, 2018 – Boicora Coral Snake *''Micrurus brasiliensis'' Roze, 1967 – Brazilian short-tailed coral snake *''Micrurus browni'' K.P. Schmidt & Hobart Muir Smith, H.M. Smith, 1943 – species:Bryce Cardigan Brown, Brown's coral snake (Quintana Roo to Honduras) **''Micrurus browni browni'' K.P. Schmidt & H.M. Smith, 1943 **''Micrurus browni importunus'' Roze, 1967 **''Micrurus browni taylori'' K.P. Schmidt & H.M. Smith, 1943 *''Micrurus camilae'' species:Juan Manuel Renjifo, Renjifo & species:Mikael Lundberg, Lundberg, 2003 (Colombia) *''Micrurus catamayensis'' Roze, 1989 – Catamayo coral snake (Catamayo Valley of Ecuador) *''Micrurus clarki'' K.P. Schmidt, 1936 – Clark's coral snake (southeastern Costa Rica to western Colombia) *''Micrurus collaris'' (Hermann Schlegel, Schlegel, 1837) – Guyana blackback coral snake (northern South America) ** ''Micrurus collaris collaris'' (Schlegel, 1837) ** ''Micrurus collaris breviventris'' Roze & species:Amanda Bernal-Carlo, Bernal-Carlo, 1987 *''Micrurus corallinus'' (Blasius Merrem, Merrem, 1820) – painted coral snake *''Micrurus decoratus'' (Jan 1858) – Brazilian coral snake *''Micrurus diana'' Roze, 1983 – Diana's coral snake *''Micrurus diastema'' (André Marie Constant Duméril, A.M.C. Duméril, Gabriel Bibron, Bibron & Auguste Duméril, A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) – variable coral snake **''Micrurus diastema aglaeope'' (Cope, 1859) **''Micrurus diastema alienus'' (Franz Werner, F. Werner, 1903) **''Micrurus diastema affinis'' (Jan 1858) **''Micrurus diastema apiatus'' (Jan 1858) **''Micrurus diastema diastema'' (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) **''Micrurus diastema macdougalli'' Roze, 1967 **''Micrurus diastema sapperi'' (F. Werner, 1903) *''Micrurus dissoleucus'' (Cope, 1860) – pygmy coral snake **''Micrurus dissoleucus dissoleucus'' (Cope, 1860) **''Micrurus dissoleucus dunni'' Thomas Barbour, Barbour, 1923 **''Micrurus dissoleucus melanogenys'' (Cope, 1860) **''Micrurus dissoleucus meridensis'' Roze, 1989 **''Micrurus dissoleucus nigrirostris'' K.P. Schmidt, 1955 *''Micrurus distans'' ( Kennicott, 1860) – West Mexican coral snake **''Micrurus distans distans'' (Kennicott, 1860) **''Micrurus distans michoacanensis'' (Alfredo Dugès, Dugės, 1891) **''Micrurus distans oliveri'' Roze, 1967 **''Micrurus distans zweifeli'' Roze, 1967 *''Micrurus diutius'' species:William Leslie Burger, Burger, 1955 – Trinidad Ribbon Coral Snake *''Micrurus dumerilii'' (Jan 1858) **''Micrurus dumerilii antioquiensis'' K.P. Schmidt, 1936 **''Micrurus dumerilii carinicaudus'' K.P. Schmidt, 1936 **''Micrurus dumerilii colombianus'' (species:Lawrence Edmonds Griffin, Griffin, 1916) **''Micrurus dumerilii dumerilii'' (Jan 1858) **''Micrurus dumerilii transandinus'' K.P. Schmidt, 1936 **''Micrurus dumerilii venezuelensis'' Roze, 1989 *''Micrurus elegans'' (Jan 1858) – elegant coral snake **''Micrurus elegans elegans'' (Jan 1858) **''Micrurus elegans veraepacis'' K.P. Schmidt, 1933 *''Micrurus ephippifer'' (Cope, 1886) – Oaxacan coral snake **''Micrurus ephippifer ephippifer'' (Cope, 1886) **''Micrurus ephippifer zapotecus'' Roze, 1989 *''Micrurus filiformis'' ( Günther, 1859) – slender coral snake **''Micrurus filiformis filiformis'' (Günther, 1859) **''Micrurus filiformis subtilis'' Roze, 1967 *''Micrurus frontalis'' (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) – southern coral snake (Brazil to northeastern Argentina) **''Micrurus frontalis frontalis'' (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) **''Micrurus frontalis mesopotamicus'' Barrio & Miranda, 1967 *''Micrurus fulvius'' (Carl Linnaeus, Linnaeus, 1766) – eastern coral snake (United States, U.S. coastal plains of North Carolina to Louisiana) *''Micrurus hemprichii'' (Jan 1858) – Wilhelm Hemprich, Hemprich's coral snake/Orange-banded coral snake **''Micrurus hemprichii hemprichii'' (Jan 1858) **''Micrurus hemprichii ortoni'' K.P. Schmidt, 1953 **''Micrurus hemprichii rondonianus'' Roze & species:Nelson Jorge da Silva Jr., Silva, 1990 *''Micrurus hippocrepis'' (W. Peters, 1862) – Maya civilization, Mayan coral snake *''Micrurus ibiboboca'' (Merrem, 1820) – Caatinga coral snake *''Micrurus isozonus'' (Cope, 1860) – Venezuela coral snake *''Micrurus langsdorffi'' (Johann Georg Wagler, Wagler, 1824) – Grigory Langsdorff, Langsdorff's coral snake *''Micrurus laticollaris'' (W. Peters, 1870) – Balsan coral snake **''Micrurus laticollaris laticollaris'' (W. Peters, 1870) **''Micrurus laticollaris maculirostris'' Roze, 1967 *''Micrurus latifasciatus'' K.P. Schmidt, 1933 – broad-ringed coral snake *''Micrurus lemniscatus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) – South American coral snake (most of low-lying areas of South America) **''Micrurus lemniscatus carvalhoi'' Roze, 1967 **''Micrurus lemniscatus frontifasciatus'' (F. Werner, 1927) **''Micrurus lemniscatus helleri'' K.P. Schmidt & Franklin J. W. Schmidt, F.J.W. Schmidt, 1925 **''Micrurus lemniscatus lemniscatus'' (Linnaeus, 1758) *''Micrurus limbatus'' species:Douglas F. Fraser, Fraser, 1964 – Tuxtlan coral snake **''Micrurus limbatus limbatus'' Fraser, 1964 **''Micrurus limbatus spilosomus'' species:Gonzalo Pérez-Higareda, Pérez-Higareda & H.M. Smith, 1990 *''Micrurus margaritiferus'' Roze, 1967 – Speckled coral snake *''Micrurus medemi'' Roze, 1967 – Villavicencio coral snake *''Micrurus meridensis'' (Roze, 1989) – Merida's coral snake *''Micrurus mertensi'' K.P. Schmidt, 1936 – Robert Mertens, Merten's coral snake *''Micrurus mipartitus'' (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) – redtail coral snake **''Micrurus mipartitus anomalus'' (Boulenger, 1896) **''Micrurus mipartitus decussatus'' (A.M.C. Duméril, Gabriel Bibron, Bibron, & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) **''Micrurus mipartitus mipartitus'' (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) **''Micrurus mipartitus semipartitus'' (Jan 1858) *''Micrurus mosquitensis'' Schmidt, 1933 – Misquito coral snake *''Micrurus multifasciatus'' (Jan 1858) – Many-banded coral snake **''Micrurus multifasciatus multifasciatus'' (Jan 1858) **''Micrurus multifasciatus hertwigi'' (F. Werner, 1897) *''Micrurus multiscutatus'' Hialmar Rendahl, Rendahl & species:Greta Vestergren, Vestergren, 1940 – Cauca coral snake *''Micrurus narduccii'' ( Jan, 1863) – Andean blackback coral snake **''Micrurus narduccii narduccii'' (Jan 1863) **''Micrurus narduccii melanotus'' ( W. Peters, 1881) *''Micrurus nattereri'' (Schmidt, 1952) – Natterer's Coral Snake *''Micrurus nebularis'' Roze, 1989 – Cloud forest coral snake *''Micrurus nigrocinctus'' (Charles Frédéric Girard, Girard, 1854) – Central American coral snake (Yucatan and Chiapas to Colombia as well as western Caribbean islands) **''Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul'' Roze, 1967 **''Micrurus nigrocinctus coibensis'' K.P. Schmidt, 1936 **''Micrurus nigrocinctus divaricatus'' (Edward Hallowell (herpetologist), Hallowell, 1855) **''Micrurus nigrocinctus nigrocinctus'' (Girard, 1854) **''Micrurus nigrocinctus ovandoensis'' K.P. Schmidt & H.M. Smith, 1943 **''Micrurus nigrocinctus wagneri'' Robert Mertens, Mertens, 1941 **''Micrurus nigrocinctus yatesi'' Emmett Reid Dunn, Dunn, 1942 **''Micrurus nigrocinctus zunilensis'' K.P. Schmidt, 1932 *''Micrurus obscurus'' (Jan 1872) – Bolivian coral snake *''Micrurus oligoanellatus'' (Ayerbe & Lopez, 2005) – Tambito's coral snake *''Micrurus ornatissimus'' (Jan 1858) – Ornate Coral Snake *''Micrurus pacaraimae'' species:Celso Morato de Carvalho, Morato de Carvalho, 2002 – Pacaraima coral snake *''Micrurus pachecogili'' Jonathan A. Campbell, Campbell, 2000 – Pueblan coral snake *''Micrurus paraensis'' Osvaldo Rodrigues da Cunha, da Cunha & species:Francisco Paiva Nascimento, Nascimento, 1973 – Pará coral snake *''Micrurus peruvianus'' K.P. Schmidt, 1936 – Peruvian coral snake *''Micrurus petersi'' Roze, 1967 – James A. Peters, Peters' coral snake *''Micrurus potyguara'' species:Matheus Godoy Pires, Pires, Silva, species:Darlan Tavares Feitosa, Feitosa, species:Ana Lúcia da Costa Prudente, Prudente, species:Gentil Alves Pereira Filho, Pereira-Filho & species:Hussam Zaher, Zaher, 2014 – Potyguara coral snake *''Micrurus proximans'' H.M. Smith & species:Peter Stanley Chrapliwy, Chrapliwy, 1958 – Nayarit coral snake *''Micrurus psyches'' (François Marie Daudin, Daudin, 1803) – Carib coral snake **''Micrurus psyches circinalis'' (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) **''Micrurus psyches donosoi'' species:Alphonse Richard Hoge, Hoge, species:Carmen Liucia dos Santos Cordeiro, Cordeiro & species:Sylvia Alma Renata Wilma Lemos Romano-Hoge, Romano, 1976 **''Micrurus psyches psyches'' (Daudin, 1803) *''Micrurus putumayensis'' species:Abdem Ramón Lancini Villalaz, Lancini, 1962 – Putumayo coral snake *''Micrurus pyrrhocryptus'' (Cope, 1862) – Argentinian coral snake (Argentina) *''Micrurus remotus'' Roze, 1987 – Remote coral snake *''Micrurus renjifoi'' species:William W. Lamar, Lamar, 2003 – Renjifo’s coral snake *''Micrurus ruatanus'' (Günther, 1895) – Roatán coral snake *''Micrurus sangilensis'' species:Hermano Nicéforo María, Nicéforo-María, 1942 – Santander, Colombia, Santander coral snake *''Micrurus scutiventris'' (Cope, 1869) *''Micrurus serranus'' (Harvey, Aparicio & Gonzalez, 2003) *''Micrurus silviae'' species:Marcos Di Bernardo, Di-Bernardo, species:Márcio Borges-Martins, Borges-Martins & Silva, 2007 *''Micrurus spixii'' (Wagler, 1824) – Amazon Basin, Amazon coral snake **''Micrurus spixiii martiusi'' K.P. Schmidt, 1953 **''Micrurus spixii obscurus'' (Jan 1872) **''Micrurus spixii princeps'' (Boulenger, 1905) **''Micrurus spixii spixii'' (Wagler, 1824) *''Micrurus spurelli'' (Boulenger, 1914) *''Micrurus steindachneri'' (F. Werner, 1901) – Franz Steindachner, Steindachner's coral snake **''Micrurus steindachneri orcesi'' Roze, 1967 **''Micrurus steindachneri steindachneri'' (F. Werner, 1901) *''Micrurus stewarti'' Barbour & Afrânio Pompilío Gastos do Amaral, Amaral, 1928 - Panamanian coral snake *''Micrurus stuarti'' Roze, 1967 – species:Laurence Cooper Stuart, Stuart's coral snake *''Micrurus surinamensis'' (Georges Cuvier, Cuvier, 1817) - Aquatic coral snake **''Micrurus surinamensis nattereri'' K.P. Schmidt, 1952 **''Micrurus surinamensis surinamensis'' (Cuvier, 1817) *''Micrurus tener'' (Spencer Fullerton Baird, Baird & Girard, 1853) – Texas coral snake (Texas and Louisiana south to Morelos and Guanajuato) **''Micrurus tener fitzingeri'' (Jan 1858) **''Micrurus tener maculatus'' Roze, 1967 **''Micrurus tener microgalbineus'' species:Bryce Cardigan Brown, B.C. Brown & H.M. Smith, 1942 **''Micrurus tener tamaulipensis'' species:Pablo Antonio Lavin-Murcio, Lavin-Murcio & James R. Dixon, Dixon, 2004 **''Micrurus tener tener'' (Baird & Girard, 1853) *''Micrurus tikuna'' Feitosa, Silva, Pires, Zaher & Prudente, 2015 *''Micrurus tricolor'' *''Micrurus tschudii'' (Jan 1858) – desert coral snake **''Micrurus tschudii olssoni'' K.P. Schmidt & F.J.W. Schmidt, 1925 **''Micrurus tschudii tschudii'' (Jan 1858)

Mimicry

New World coral snakes serve as models for their Batesian mimics, false coral snakes, snake species whose venom is less toxic, as well as for many nonvenomous snake species that bear superficial resemblances to them. The role of coral snakes as models for Batesian mimics is supported by research showing that coral snake color patterns deter predators from attacking snake-shaped prey, and that in the absence of coral snakes, species hypothesized to mimic them are indeed attacked more frequently. Species that appear similar to coral snakes include: *''Cemophora coccinea'' *''Chionactis palarostris'' *''Erythrolamprus aesculapii'' *''Erythrolamprus bizona'' *''Erythrolamprus ocellatus'', Tobago false coral snake *''Lampropeltis elapsoides'', scarlet kingsnake *''Lampropeltis pyromelana'' *''Lampropeltis triangulum'', milk snake, including the following subspecies and others: **''Lampropeltis triangulum amaura'' **''Lampropeltis triangulum annulata'' **''Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli'' **''Lampropeltis triangulum gaigeae'' **''Lampropeltis triangulum gentilis'' **''Lampropeltis triangulum hondurensis'' **''Lampropeltis triangulum multistrata'' **''Lampropeltis triangulum syspila'' *''Lampropeltis zonata'' *''Lystrophis pulcher'', tri-color hognose snake *''Oxyrhopus petola'' *''Oxyrhopus rhombifer'', false coral snake *''Pliocercus elapoides'', variegated false coral snake *''Rhinobothryum bovallii'', coral mimic snake, false tree coral *''Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus''