Micrurus psyches
| Micrurus psyches | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Micrurus |
| Species: | M. psyches |
| Binomial name | |
| Micrurus psyches (Daudin, 1803) | |
 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Micrurus psyches, also known commonly as the Carib coral snake and the northern coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to northern South America.[2]
Local common names
[edit]Local common names for Micrurus psyches include cobra coral do Pará [2] and cobra coral septentrional [3] in Brazilian Portuguese, and coral norteña in South American Spanish.[3]
Description
[edit]Micrurus psyches is medium-sized for its genus. Adults usually have a total length (tail included) of 45–60 cm (18–24 in). The maximum recorded total length is 91 cm (36 in).[3]
Like many New World coral snakes, the color pattern consists of red, white (or yellow), and black rings, with the black rings not arranged in triads. Unlike most New World coral snakes, the red rings are very dark, appearing dark brown, purplish, or even black. The "red" rings are 3–7 dorsals and ventrals wide. The white rings are only one dorsal and ventral wide. The black rings are 3–4 dorsals and ventrals wide. Males have 22–29 black rings on the body, and females have 27–41.[3]
Males have 188–196 ventrals and 44–49 subcaudals, and lack supraanal tubercles. Females have 203–212 ventrals and 30–33 subcaudals.[3]
The dorsal scales are arranged in 15 rows at midbody, and the anal plate is divided.[4]
Geographic distribution
[edit]Specimens of Micrurus psyches have been identified in northern Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, and southeastern Venezuela.[1][2]
Habitat
[edit]The preferred natural habitat of Micrurus psyches is forest, at elevations from near sea level to 500 m (1,600 ft).[1]
Behavior
[edit]Micrurus psyches is terrestrial.[1]
Diet
[edit]Micrurus psyches preys predominately upon snakelike lizards of the genus Bachia.[3]
Reproduction
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 Ouboter, P.; Schargel, W.; Rivas, G. (2019). "Micrurus psyches ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019 e.T44582018A44582027. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T44582018A44582027.en. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Species Micrurus psyches at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 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 psyches, p. 210 + Map 31 + Color 52).
- ↑ Boulenger, G.A. (1896).
Further reading
[edit]- Beebe, W. (1919). "Higher Vertebrates of British Guiana". Zoologica. 2 (7): 205–238. (Micrurus psyches, new combination, p. 216).
- 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 psyches, pp. 426–427).
- Campbell, J.A.; Lamar, W.W. (1989). Venomous Reptiles of Latin America. Ithaca, New York: Comstock Publishing Associates, a Division of Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-0801420597. xiv + 430 pp., 568 figures, 109 distribution maps, 31 tables.
- Cole, C.J.; Townsend, C.R.; Reynolds, R.P.; MacCulloch, R.D.; Lathrop, A. (2013). "Amphibians and reptiles of Guyana, South America: illustrated keys, annotated species accounts, and biogeographic synopsis". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 125 (4): 317–578.
- Daudin, F.M. (1803). Histoire Naturelle, Générale et Particulière des Reptiles; Ouvrage faisant suite aux Œuvres de Leclerc de Buffon, et partie du Cours complet d'Histoire naturelle rédigé par C.S. Sonnini, membre de plusieurs Sociétés savantes. Tome huitième [Volume 8]. Paris: F. Dufart. 439 pp. (Vipera psyches, new species, pp. 320–321 + Plate C, figure 1). (in French and Latin).
- Duméril, A.M.C.; Bibron, G.; Duméril, A.[-H.A.] (1854). Erpétologie générale ou histoire naturelle complète des reptiles. Tome septième [Volume 7]. Deuxième partie. Comprenant l'histoire des serpents venimeux. Paris: Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret. xii + pp. 781–1536. (Elaps psyches, pp. 1212–1213). (in French).
- Freiberg, M. (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. 189 pp. (Micrurus psyches, p. 116).
- Merrem, B. (1820). Versuchs eines Systems der Amphibien: Tentamen Systematis Amphibiorum. Marburg: J.C. Krieger. xv + 191 pages + one unnumbered plate. (Elaps psyches, p. 144). (in German and Latin).
- Rivas, G.A.; Molina, C.R.; Ugueto, G.N.; Barros, T.R.; Barrio-Amorós, C.L.; Kok, P.J.R. (2012). "Reptiles of Venezuela: an updated and commented checklist". Zootaxa. 3211: 1–64. (in English, with an abstract in Spanish).