24 VENOMOUS SNAKES AND THE PHENOMENA OF THEIR VENOMS 
of the head is exactly that of Tantilla. Coloration bright, consisting of red and 
black, with some yellow, arranged in rings or parts of rings. The red is generally 
the ground-color, and the black rings are either single or in sets of three. The 
latter may be much narrower than ground-color, or may be so wide as to reduce it 
to very small proportions (Hlaps semipartitus). Epidermis beautifully iridescent, 
especially in the black spaces. The colors are much like those of the mineral 
labradorites, and are probably due to the same physical cause, namely, a micro- 
scopic lamination of the surface (Cope). On direct antero-posterior view the color 
is peacock purple; on transverse view it passes from brassy yellow through brassy 
green to maroon and brown. The colors do not appear if the scales are wet. As 
to the dangerous character of the coral snakes, all suspicion of doubt has been 
removed by the many fatalities arising from careless handling of these snakes. 
The alleged non-dangerousness or even innocuousness of the coral snakes has its 
origin in the mistaken identity of the snake, as their general appearances are hardly 
distinguishable from many truly non-poisonous American snakes — for example, 
Ophibolus (‘scarlet king snake,” O. doliatus; “red king snake,” O. coccineus; 
O. annulatus, “ringed king snake,” etc.), and Osceola elapsoidea; the ‘scarlet 
snake,” Cemophora coccinea; Rhinochilus lecontei. One fundamental difference 
in the color-arrangement seen in the species of H/aps within the United States 
boundary and that in Ophibolus, Osceola, and Cemophora, is that in our Elaps 
black rings are bordered on each margin by a yellowish ring, while in the others the 
yellow rings are bordered on each side by a black ring. 
Red — yellow — black — yellow — red (Coral snake). 
Red — black — yellow — black — red (Ophibolus and the like). 
Elaps fulvius.1 (Plate 6, c.) 
This species is known as the “harlequin snake.” Color above, red; yellow and 
black rings; tail yellow and black rings; nose black. Length 3.25 feet. Eastern 
parts of Southern States of North America, boundary of Ohio and of Missouri 
down to Rio Grande, Mexico, Central America. 
~Elaps euryxanthus. 
This is known as the “Sonora coral snake.” Color red with 11 yellow-rimmed 
black rings. Length about 1.25 feet. Arizona and Colorado, northwestern parts 
of Mexico; in Arizona even at an altitude of 5,500 feet. 
Elaps marcgravii. 
Six to ro black rings, the middle ones being larger. Muzzle yellow, nose black; 
occipital black. Length about 3.5 feet. Tropical South America. 
Elaps heterochilus. 
Like E. marcgravii. Length 1.6 to 2 feet. Brazil. 
Elaps surinamensis. 
Seven or 8 series of tricolored rings. Length 2 to 3 feet, but can attain 
a length of 6 feet. Venezuela, Guiana, northern part of Brazil, northeast 
of Peru. 
Elaps gravenhorstii. 
Seven series of tricolored rings. Length under 2 feet. Brazil. 
Elaps langsdorfii. 
Dark-brown color with 63 cross series of cream spots, each occupying one scale; 
belly yellow with red crossband. Length about 1 foot. Upper Amazon. 

1 An account of the dangerous effect of the bites of this species was given by Einar Loennberg, Proc. 
U.S. Nat. Mus., 1894, XVII, 334. See also Cope, 1898, 1123. The habits of the coral snake 
are admirably described by Ditmars, The Reptile Book, 1907, 397. 
