Micrurus lemniscatus

Micrurus lemniscatus
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Micrurus
Species:	M. lemniscatus
Binomial name
Micrurus lemniscatus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Coluber lemniscatus Linnaeus, 1758 Elaps lemniscatus — A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 Elaps heterochilus Boulenger, 1896 Elaps gravenhorstii Boulenger, 1896 Micrurus lemniscatus — Beebe, 1919 Micrurus helleri K.P. Schmidt & F.J.W. Schmidt, 1925 Elaps frontifasciatus F. Werner, 1927

Micrurus lemniscatus, commonly known as the South American coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to South America.

Description

M. lemniscatus is a thin and brightly colored species. Adults measure 60–90 cm (24–35 in) in length, the maximum previously reported was 145 cm (57 in). The snout is black, followed by a narrow white crossband in front of the eyes, then a wider black band including the eyes. The eyes are small, and the rest of the head is red. The body pattern consists of slightly broad red rings that are separated by seven to 17 triads of three black and white rings. The tail has two black triads alternating with white rings.

Behavior

Like many coral snakes, M. lemniscatus is nocturnal and terrestrial, digging in loose soil or litter. It is not aggressive towards humans, although it can attack to defend itself.

Reproduction

Breeding of M. lemniscatus is oviparous, having a clutch size of possibly 20 eggs.

Diet

Alimentation of M. lemniscatus is mainly long-bodied vertebrates such as freshwater eels, gymnotiform fishes, caecilians, lizards, and snakes.

Geographic range

M. lemniscatus is found in Argentina, northern Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, eastern Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, eastern Peru, Suriname, Trinidad, and Venezuela.

Habitat

M. lemniscatus is a widespread species in South America, living in humid forests and lowland forests, in open savannas and gallery forests. It is also found in lowland floodplains, deforested areas or near human habitation, in humid areas or near places with a water source. It occurs from near sea level to an altitude of 1,000 m (3,300 ft).

Venom

The venom of M. lemniscatus is a potent post- and pre-synaptic neurotoxin, which causes a potent and irreversible neuromuscular block in vertebrates. Lemnitoxin, a potent myotoxic PLA2 type toxin, isolated from the venom of M. lemniscatus induces local and systemic myotoxicity after intramuscular and intravenous injection in mice, which is antigenically related to Micrurus nigrocinctus nigroxin, Notechis scutatus notexin, mulgotoxin of Pseudechis australis and textilotoxin of Pseudonaja textilis.

Further reading

• Boulenger GA (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Elaps lemniscatus, p. 430).
• Freiberg M (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. 189 pp. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. (Micrurus lemniscatus, p. 115 + color photograph of M. l. carvalhoi on p. 187).
• Jan G, Sordelli F (1872). Iconographie générale des Ophidiens, Quarante-deuxième livraison. Paris: Baillière. Index + Plates I-VI. (Elaps lemniscatus, Plate V, figures 1 & 1*). (in French).
• Linnaeus C (1758). Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio Decima, Reformata. Stockholm: L. Salvius. 824 pp. (Coluber lemniscatus, new species, p. 224). (in Latin).
• Roze JA (1996). Coral Snakes of the Americas: Biology, Identification, and Venoms. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Co. 340 pp. ISBN 978-0894648472.