Coral Snake

Coral Snake, common name for certain small, brightly colored, venomous snakes of the dangerous family of snakes that also includes the cobra. About 50 species of coral snake are known, most of them native to Central and South America. Most coral snakes are marked with a pattern of brightly colored rings or bands that are black, yellow, and red, although the color and pattern of some tropical species can vary. Two species of coral snake are found in the United States: the Eastern coral snake, or harlequin snake, of the southeastern states; and the smaller Western, or Arizona, coral snake, found from the southern parts of New Mexico and Arizona to northwestern Mexico. Both have slender heads and bodies and tend to be secretive and nocturnal. However, coral snakes can sometimes be seen after rains, on overcast days, and in the early morning or late evening. The Eastern coral snake is relatively large—often more than 60 cm (more than 24 in) in length—and lives in many habitats, including pine woods and hardwood forests. The Western coral snake is smaller, rarely reaching more than 50 cm (more than 20 in), and occurs in dry habitats. Some South American coral snakes are more than 2 m (more than 6.5 ft) in length, and some are semi-aquatic. When threatened, coral snakes usually curl their tails into a tight spiral and hold them upright; this behavior is thought to attract predators to the tail rather than to the more vulnerable head. Most coral snakes feed on small snakes and lizards.

Like other members of the family to which they belong, coral snakes have a pair of short fangs fixed in the front of the mouth through which they inject a lethal poison that acts primarily on the nervous system. Although not aggressive, coral snakes will bite readily when irritated or restrained. Many species of harmless snakes mimic coral snakes in color and pattern, probably to discourage predators. See Mimicry.

Scientific classification: Coral snakes belong to the family Elapidae. The Eastern coral snake is classified as Micrurus fulvius and the Western coral snake as Micruroides euryxanthus.