Poisonous Snakes of ihe World 



GENERIC AND SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Micruroides Schmidt, 1928. 

 Ari/.onii conil siiako. 



A hIiikIc siH'cUvs. .1/. iKii/xiiiilliim ( Kciiiiii cii | i , Is ri'r- 

 oKiilztMl. It is t'outiil ill tli(> soiitliwcsli-ni I'liilcd Slates 

 iiiiil mirlliwi'stfi'ii Mfxicd. It Is ii siimll sinikt- but Is 

 coiisidcrfd tlilliKi'i'ous. 



Hrflniliiiii : Ilfiul .siiiiUI. iiol illsliiicl I'liira iit'ck : snout 

 rouiuleil, no distinct cniitlius. Itmly slciidci- and I'lunj;- 

 ate. not tnperod ; tail short. 



Kyes small : luipils round. 



Ht-ad .scalos: The usual on tlio crown. I.,atprall.v. 

 nasal in contact with single prcncular. X'cntrally, men- 

 tal separated from anterior cliin shields liv lirst infraln- 

 liial.i. 



Body scales: Dorsals snicmili, in l."i mmohlique rows 

 throusrhout body. Ventrais UtMi L'ti;; anal piate divided: 

 suhcaudals paired. l!»-32. 



.Maxillary teeth: Two relatively larKc tubular fangs 

 folliiwed. after an interspace, by 1-2 small teeth. 



Rvmark.i: Differs from iionixiisonous snakes as Mi- 

 eriirun does: differs from Micninis in the solid black 

 head color wliiili ends in a slraight line across the 

 parietals. and in the teeth behind the fangs. 



Arizona Coral Snake, Mlrritroifles euryxanfhiis 

 (Kennicott). 



Jiloitificdtiiin : The eloiifjate body, unmoditied rostral, 

 and black snout distinguish this species from the simi- 

 larly-colored nonpoisonous saiul snakes (Cliilomciiiscus) 

 and shovel-nosed snakes [Oiinnucti.s) that inhabit the 

 same region. The yellow- or white-bordered red rings 

 distingiiish it from the king snakes (Lamproprllis) 

 which have black-bordered red bands. Adults average 

 12 to 16 inches in length ; occasional individuals attain 

 a length of 20 inches. 



Snout and anterior part of head black, ending in a 

 straight line across posterior tips of parietals. A light 



I yellow or wbllislip band on iicrk. followed by a red 

 ring: remainrler of hnily with allermillrig rings of bliu'k 

 ami red, eaih separah'd by light rings. 'I'Mil luinds al- 

 lernallng black and light. 



l>istril)UlU»i : Semldesert areas from western Texas 

 and western Chlhiinbua througli sonlliern New Mexleo, 

 Arlxona, SurioiM. .-nid Slnaloa ; on Tiliurnn Island. 

 Found at alliludes up to .".(K)0 feel (I'ortal. .Arizona I. 



I\vtiiiiil;s : This small and secretive snake Is inoffen- 

 sive and very few biles have been reporled. However, 

 il possese.ss a highly toxic venom and should not be 

 Incited c.'irelessly, 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Micrurus Wagler, 1824. 

 .\iiicric;m loral snakes. 



.\lio\it JO species are currently recognized. They 

 range from North Carolina to Texas, and from Mexico 

 southward through Central and South America tf) 



Figure 26. — Fitzinger's Coral Snake. Mirninm fitzinf/eri 

 (Jan). An unusual red, yellow, and black coral 

 snake that ranges well onto the .southern part of the 

 Mexican plateau. Photo by (Charles M. Bogert. 



FiorRE 2.'i. — Arizona Coral Snake. Mirnimidrs riinjxan- 

 til IIS. The straight line across the ends of the parie- 

 tals and the red color of the first body ring are dis- 

 tinctive. Photo by Charles M. Bogert. 



Bolivia and Argentina. Most are small species but 

 some attain lengths in excess of 4 feet. All are dan- 

 gerous. 



Definition: Head small, not distinct from neck: 

 snout rounded, no distinct canthus. Body elongate, 

 slender, not tapered : tail short. 



Eyes small ; pupils round. 



Head scales: The usual 9 on the crown. Laterally, 

 nasal in contact with single preocular. Ventrally, men- 

 tal separated from anterior chin shields by first infrala- 

 bials. 



Body scales : Dorsals smooth, in 1.5 nonoblique rows 

 throughout body. Ventrais 177-412 ; anal plate divided 

 or entire: suhcaudals l(>-<i2, usually paired but more 

 than ~)0 percent single in some species. 



Maxillary teeth : Two relatively large tubular fangs 

 with indistinct grooves ; no other teeth on bone. 



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