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 (Elaps 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 Elaps 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.i (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 1 1 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 10 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 gravenhoistil. 



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., 1804, XVII, 334. See also Cope, 1898, 1123. The habits of the coral snake 

 are admirably described by Ditmars, The Reptile Book, 1907, 397. 



