Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
(C)
Plate 4.36
(
Continued
)
(C) Texas coral snake; coralillo tejano (
Micrurus tener
),
Kingsville, Texas.
A secretive, fossorial micrurine elapid,
M. tener
is one of three species
of micrurine elapids found in the USA. It favors other fossorial reptiles (e.g., the worm
snake,
Carphophis amoenus
) as prey, and occasionally figures in snakebites. In contrast to
envenomation by the eastern coral snake (
Micrurus fulvius
), bites by
M. tener
can result in
significant pain. Some of these occur as a result of intentional contact with these snakes, but
bites may happen as the victim accidentally uncovers the snake during work that involves
turning of soil, or other landscaping. The uncommonly encountered Arizona coral snake
(
Micruroides euryxanthus
) is reluctant to bite even when restrained. However, there is a
documented case of transient paralytic effects after a
M. euryxanthus
bite that was delivered to
the interdigital folds of the respective victim's hand.
Plate 4.36A-C, photos copyright to David A. Warrell.
(A)
(B)
Plate 4.37
(A-C) Diadem or tricolored burrowing snakes (
Phalotris
spp.).
This little-
known South American (found in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Bolivia
)
group of
approximately 12 taxa of fossorial xenodontine snakes are of unsettled taxonomic status as
are the allied genera,
Apostolepis
(the burrowing snakes), and
Elapomorphus
(also known as
diadem snakes). There are only a few reports describing the effects of bites by
Phalotris
spp.
and
Elapomorphus
spp. Most of these cases have been poorly documented, and thus are not
amenable to evidence-based analysis. These have reported only mild local effects. One report
of a bite by
Phalotris trilineatus
(Argentine black-headed snake) included alleged systemic
symptoms/signs. This case is critically reviewed in Section 4.5, and the limited available
evidence does not support any significant medical hazard posed by these snakes.
(A and B)
Phalotris tricolor
, Tupi Paulista, Brazil.
