Micrurus filiformis
| Micrurus filiformis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Micrurus |
| Species: | M. filiformis |
| Binomial name | |
| Micrurus filiformis (Günther, 1859) | |
 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Micrurus filiformis, also known commonly as the slender coral snake and the thread coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to northern South America. There are no recognized subspecies.[2]
Local common names
Local common names for Micrurus filiformis include cobra coral fio (meaning "wire coral snake") in Brazilian Portuguese, and coral hebra (meaning "strand coral snake") in South American Spanish.[3]
Description
In Günther's 1859 original description of Micrurus filiformis (as Elaps filiformis), he summarized its appearance as follows:
"Exceedingly slender. Only one posterior ocular shield. Body surrounded by black rings, always three together; muzzle, and a cross-band between the eyes, black."
The red rings, which alternate with the triads of black and white, are immaculate or have very few black-tipped scales. M. filiformis has a very high number of ventrals: 275–333 in females, and 270–316 in males. Medium-sized for the genus Micrurus, adults of M. filiformis usually have a total length (tail included) of 45–58 cm (18–23 in). The maximum recorded total length is 96 cm (38 in).[3]
Geographic distribution
Micrurus filiformis is found in northern Brazil, southern Colombia, and northern Peru.[2]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of Micrurus filiformis are forest and savanna, usually near streams, at elevations from near sea level to 400 m (1,300 ft).[1]
Behavior
Micrurus filiformis is terrestrial.[1]
Diet
Micrurus filiformis preys upon invertebrates, amphisbaenians, lizards, and snakes.[1]
Reproduction
References
- 1 2 3 4 Ines Hladki, A.; Ramírez Pinilla, M.; Renjifo, J.; Urbina, N.; Nogueira, C. de C.; Gagliardi, G. (2019). "Micrurus filiformis ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T15202867A15202876. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T15202867A15202876.en. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 Species Micrurus filiformis at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- 1 2 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 filiformis, pp. 170–171 + Map 11 + Color 22).
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 Musem (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I–XXV. (Elaps filiformis, pp. 430–431).
- Feitosa, D.T.; Passos, P.; Prudente, A.L.C. (2007). "Taxonomic status and geographic variation of the slender coralsnake Micrurus filiformis (Günther, 1859) (Serpentes, Elapidae)". South American Journal of Herpetology. 2 (3): 149–156.
- Freiberg, M. (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. 189 pp. (Micrurus filiformis, p. 115).
- Günther, A. (1859). "On the Genus Elaps of Wagler". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. 1859: 79–89. + Plates XVI–XVIII. (Elaps filiformis, new species, pp. 86–87 + Plate XVIII, figure B).
- Hurtado-Gómez, Juan Pablo; Aponte-Gutiérrez, Andrés Felipe; Preciado, Vicente Javier; Fritz, Uwe; Vargas-Ramírez, Mario (2021). "Morphological and Molecular Evidence Reveals the First Record of the Coral Snake Micrurus filiformis (Serpentes: Elapidae) as Prey of the Piranha Pygocentrus cariba (Teleostei: Serrasalmidae)". Russian Journal of Herpetology. 28 (2): 117–121.