Micrurus limbatus
| Micrurus limbatus | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Micrurus |
| Species: | M. limbatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Micrurus limbatus Fraser, 1964 | |
 | |
Micrurus limbatus, also known commonly as the Tuxtlan coral snake and el coralillo de Tuxtla in Mexican Spanish, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Mexico. There are two recognized subspecies.[2]
Description
[edit]Micrurus limbatus is a small species of coral snake. Adults usually have a total length (tail included) of 40–55 cm (16–22 in). The maximum recorded total length is 58.5 cm (23 in).[3]
Unlike most species of the genus Micrurus, M. limbatus is bicolored. Its color pattern consists of alternating red and black rings. There are no yellow or white rings present. In the subspecies M. l. spilosomus, the black rings are reduced to black dorsal spots, which are oval or round.[3]
Geographic distribution
[edit]Micrurus limbatus is found in eastern Mexico, in the Mexican state of Veracruz.[1][2]
Habitat
[edit]The preferred natural habitat of Micrurus limbatus is forest, at elevations of 160–1,050 m (520–3,440 ft), but it has also been found in disturbed and artificial habitats such as agricultural areas.[1]
Behavior
[edit]Micrurus limbatus is terrestrial.[1]
Reproduction
[edit]Subspecies
[edit]Two subspecies of Micrurus limbatus are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]
- Micrurus limbatus limbatus Fraser, 1964
- Micrurus limbatus spilosomus Pérez-Higareda & H.M. Smith, 1990
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Calderón Mandujano, R.; Lopez-Luna, M.A. (2007). "Micrurus limbatus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2007 e.T64028A12738039. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2007.RLTS.T64028A12738039.en. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 Species Micrurus limbatus 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 limbatus, pp. 192–193 + Map 23 + Color 41 + Pattern 30).
Further reading
[edit]- Campbell, J.A.; Lamar, W.W. (1989). The Venomous Reptiles of Latin America. Ithaca, New York: Comstock Publishing Associates, a Division of Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0801420597. iv + 430 pp., 568 figures, 109 distribution maps, 31 tables.
- Fraser, D.F. (1964). "Micrurus limbatus, a New Coral Snake from Veracruz, Mexico". Copeia. 1964 (3): 570–573. (Micrurus limbatus, new species).
- Heimes, P. (2016). Snakes of Mexico: Herpetofauna Mexicana Vol. I. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Edition Chimaira. ISBN 978-3899731002. 572 pp.
- Liner, E.A. (2007). "A Checklist of the Amphibians and Reptiles of México". Occasional Papers of the Museum of Natural Science, Louisiana State University (80): 1–60. (Micrurus limbatus, p. 53).
- Pérez-Higareda, G.; Smith, H.M. (1990). "The Endemic Coral Snakes of the Los Tuxtlas Region, Southern Veracruz, Mexico". Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society. 26: 5–13. (Micrurus limbatus spilosomus, new subspecies, pp. 6–8 + Figures 2–3 on p. 11).