Roatan coral snake
| Roatan coral snake | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Micrurus |
| Species: | M. ruatanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Micrurus ruatanus (Günther, 1895) | |
 | |
| Synonyms[1][2] | |
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The Roatán coral snake (Micrurus ruatanus), also known commonly as coral de la Isla de Roatán or coral roatanense in Spanish, and babaspul in the local dialect, is a critically endangered species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to the island of Roatán, one of the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras.[1] There are no subspecies that are recognized as being valid.[3]
Description
Micrurus ruatanus is a bicolored New World coral snake. Its color pattern consists of alternating wide and narrow black rings, which are separated by red rings. The wide black rings are 3 dorsal scales wide, and the narrow black rings are 1–2 dorsals wide.[4]
Sexual dimorphism exists in both coloration and scalation. Males have 33–39 black rings on the body, and females have 41–45. Males have 178–188 ventrals and 46–48 subcaudals, and females have 193–203 ventrals and 34–38 subcaudals.[4]
Medium-sized for the genus Micrurus, adults usually have a total length (tail included) of 45–60 cm (18–24 in). The maximum recorded total length is 68 cm (27 in).[4]
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of Micrurus roatanensis is forest, at elevations from near sea level to 20 m (66 ft).[1]
Behavior
Micrurus ruatanus is terrestrial and semi-fossorial.[1]
Diet
Micrurus ruatanus is known to prey on the lizard Cnemidophorus ruatanus.[4]
Reproduction
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Townsend, J.H.; McCranie, J.R.; Stafford, P. (2013). "Micrurus ruatanus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013 e.T177486A1487908. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T177486A1487908.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- 1 2 Species Micrurus ruatanus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- ↑ "Micrurus ruatanus ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 21 September 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 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 ruatanus, pp. 213–214 + Map 35 + Color 54).
Further reading
- Günther, A.C.L.G. (1895). Biologia Centrali-Americana. Reptilia and Batrachia. London: Godman and Salvin. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xx + 326 pp. + Plates 1–76. [Published in parts 1885–1902]. (Elaps ruatanus, new species, p. 185 + Plate 57, figure B).
- Schmidt, K.P. (1933). "Preliminary Account of the Coral Snakes of Central America and Mexico". Zoological Series of Field Museum of Natural History. 20 (6): 29–40. (Micrurus ruatanus, pp. 34–35).
- Wilson, L.D. (1984). "The status of Micrurus ruatanus (Günther), a coral snake endemic to the Bay Islands of Honduras". Herpetological Review. 15 (3): 67.
- Wilson, L.D.; Hahn, D.E. (1973). "The Herpetofauna of the Islas de la Bahia, Honduras". Bulletin of the Florida State Museum Biological Sciences. 17 (2): 93–150. (Micrurus ruatanus, pp. 135–137, Figures 3A–3B).
- Wilson, L.D.; McCranie, J.R.; Slowinski, J.B. (1992). "Micrurus ruatanus (Günther), Babaspul (local dialect), Coral (Spanish), Roatan Coral Snake (English)". Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 545: 1–2.