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Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul

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Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Micrurus
Species:
Subspecies:
M. n. babaspul
Trinomial name
Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul
Roze, 1967

Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul, or the babaspul (Creole for "barber's pole"), is a subspecies of Micrurus nigrocinctus, commonly known as the Central American coral snake. M. n. babaspul is a venomous elapid from Big Corn Island (Isla Grande del Maíz), Nicaragua. According to O'Shea (2008) this is an endangered subspecies, and the subspecies may even be extinct.

Description

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M. n. babaspul is a tricoloured monadal coral snake. Its color pattern consists of rings in the order red/yellow/black/yellow/red. Being a monadal coral snake, it only has one black ring between each pair of red rings. It has a round small head with a long slender body. Adults may attain a total length (including tail) of 1.5–2 ft (46–61 cm).

Geographic Range

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The babaspul is endemic to Big Corn Island, Nicaragua.

Habitat

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M. n. babaspul inhabits tropical moist forests.

Diet

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The babaspul will actively hunt small lizards and small snakes, and if available will take some rodents small enough for it to consume.

Reproduction

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There is not much known about the reproduction of the babaspul, but it is believed to be an oviparous species.

Further reading

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  • Roze J. 1967. "A check list of the New World venomous coral snakes (Elapidae), with descriptions of new forms". American Museum Novitates (2287): 1-60. (Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul, new subspecies).
  • O'Shea, Mark (2008). Venomous Snakes of the World. New Holland Publishers Ltd. p. 52. ISBN 978-1847730862.
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