Kingdom Animalia Class Reptilia Suborder Serpentes Scientific name Micrurus stuarti | Phylum Chordata Order Squamata Family Elapidae Rank Species | |
Similar Roatan coral snake, Micrurus browni, Micrurus averyi, Micrurus serranus | ||
Micrurus stuarti (Stuart's coral snake) is a species of vertebrate, a venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is found in Guatemala. There are no recognized subspecies.
Contents
Etymology
The specific name, stuarti, is in honor of American herpetologist Laurence Cooper Stuart.
Common names
Common names for M. stuarti include Stuart's coral snake, and in Spanish: coral de los volcanes and coral de Stuart.
Description
M. stuarti can grow to a total length (including tail) of 74 cm (29 in), but most are closer to 50–60 cm (20–24 in). Its color pattern consists of 13–19 relatively broad black rings and very broad red rings, separated by narrow yellow rings. The dorsal scales are smooth, and the red ones are black-tipped. The number of broad black rings on the tail may vary from 3 to 4, separated by narrow red-brown rings.
Geographic range and habitat
M. stuarti has only been found on the Pacific versant of southwestern Guatemala. Its habitat consists of subtropical wet forest and lower montane wet forest. It may also be found in similar adjacent habitats in southeastern Mexico.
Reproduction
M. stuarti is oviparous.