Micrurus ancoralis
| Micrurus ancoralis | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Micrurus |
| Species: | M. ancoralis |
| Binomial name | |
| Micrurus ancoralis (Jan, 1872) | |
 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Micrurus ancoralis, also known commonly as the anchor coral snake and the regal coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to extreme southeastern Central America and adjacent northwestern South America. There are two recognized subspecies.[2]
Description
Dorsally, Micrurus ancoralis has a red head, followed by a black anchor-shaped marking on the neck. The body color pattern consists of black, white, and red rings. The black rings are in triads enclosing white rings, and the triads are separated by red rings.[2]
The ventrals number 248–266 in males and 271–290 in females.[2]
Long and heavy-bodied for its genus,[2] as an adult M. ancoralis is usually 0.90 m (3.0 ft) in total length (tail included), but the maximum recorded total length is 1.486 m (4.88 ft).[3]
Geographic distribution
Micrurus ancoralis is found in southeastern Panama, western Colombia, and western Ecuador.[2]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of Micrurus ancoralis is forest, at elevations from sea level to 1,500 m (4,900 ft), but it has also been found in artificial habitats such as banana plantations.[1]
Behavior
Micrurus ancoralis is terrestrial and semifossorial.[1]
Diet
Micrurus ancoralis preys on amphisbaenians, such as Amphisbaena fuliginosa, and small snakes, such as Ninia atrata.[1]
Reproduction
Subspecies
Two subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Micrurus.
Etymology
The subspecific name, jani, is in honor of Italian herpetologist Giorgio Jan.[4]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Ibáñez, R.; Jaramillo, C.; Renjifo, J.; Cisneros-Heredia, D.F.; Bolívar, W.; Velasco, J. (2017). "Micrurus ancoralis ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2017 e.T203623A2769193. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T203623A2769193.en. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Micrurus ancoralis ". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
- ↑ Roze, J.A. (1996). Coral Snakes of the Americas: Biology, Identification, and Venoms. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89464-847-0. xii + 328 pp., 38 maps, 63 color photographs, 49 color pattern drawings. (Micrurus ancoralis, pp. 140–141 + Map 7 + Color 7 + Pattern 3).
- ↑ Schmidt, K.P. (1936).
Further reading
- Boulenger, G.A. (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), Amblycephalidæ, and Viperidæ. London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Elaps ancoralis, pp. 432–433).
- Boulenger, G.A. (1898). "An Account of the Reptiles and Batrachians collected by Mr. W. F. H. Rosenberg in Western Ecuador". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 198: 107–126. + Plates X–XVIII. (Elaps rosenbergi, new species, p. 117 + Plate XIII, three views of head and neck).
- Freiberg, M. (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. 189 pp. (Micrurus ancoralis, p. 114
- Jan, G. (1872). In: Jan, [G.]; Sordelli, F. (1872). Iconographie générale des Ophidiens, Quarante-deuxième livraison. Paris: J.B. Baillière et fils. Index + Plates I–VI. (Elaps Marcgravi var. ancoralis, new variety, Plate IV, figure 2). (in French).
- Schmidt, K.P. (1936). "Preliminary Account of Coral Snakes of South America". Zoological Series of Field Museum of Natural History. 20 (19): 189–203. (Micrurus ancoralis jani, new subspecies, pp. 197–198).