Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
(C)
Plate 4.35
(
Continued
)
(C) Forest flame snake; calico false-coral snake; cobra-coral;
falsa coral de calico, others
(
Oxyrhopus petola
), Ecuador.
Plate 4.35A-C, photos copyright to David A. Warrell.
(A)
(B)
Plate 4.36
(A) Brazilian coral snake; Southern coral snake; boipinima; coral venenosa;
mboi-chumbe-guazo; others (
Micrurus frontalis
), Brazil.
This micrurine elapid has highly
toxic venom and is a medically important species in Brazil. The venom contains postsynaptic
neurotoxins and myotoxins. Serious envenomations are life threatening, and fatalities are well-
documented. Several genera of non-front-fanged colubroids (e.g.,
Oxyrhopus
,
Erythrolamprus
,
Pliocercus
as well as some
Lampropeltis
and others) are mimics of some taxa of micrurines
(see
Table 4.1
).
(B) Surinam coral snake; boichumbeguacu; coral de agua; naca naca de agua; others
(
Micrurus surinamensis
), Mita Vaupes, Colombia.
This unusual aquatic coral snake is a
large, relatively heavy-bodied micrurine elapid. Although it is known to inhabit slow-moving
streams, and favors fish as prey, its natural history is poorly known.