Types of coralsnakes

Micrurus belongs to the family Elapidae, the same lineage as cobras, mambas, and sea snakes. Members are typically slim-bodied with a short, blunt tail and a small, rounded head that is barely distinct from the neck. Their hallmark is a vivid pattern of rings, usually combinations of red, black, and yellow or white that encircle the entire body. Unlike vipers, coral snakes have small, fixed front fangs rather than long folding ones, so they deliver venom with a more deliberate, chewing bite. Our database lists 75+ species in the genus, and all 75 are venomous.

The genus ranges broadly across the Western Hemisphere, from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America and across much of South America. Within that range live many regional species, including the Texas Coralsnake, the Eastern Coralsnake, the Central American Coralsnake, the Variable Coralsnake, and the Painted Coralsnake. Habitat varies by species, but coral snakes are generally tied to leaf litter, loose soil, and ground debris where they can stay hidden.

Coral snakes are the subject of well-known color rhymes such as the one beginning red touches yellow. These rhymes are only a rough guide in the United States, and they are unreliable across Latin America, where harmless lookalikes mimic the rings and where the true band order differs by region and species. Because of this, color and pattern are never a safe way to identify a snake as harmless. The honest rule is simple: do not pick up or handle any banded snake to test a rhyme, and never treat a wild snake as safe based on its colors.

Ecologically, Micrurus species are secretive and largely fossorial, spending much of their time burrowing through soil and hiding under logs, leaves, and surface cover. They feed mainly on other snakes and on lizards, often hunting prey they can subdue and swallow whole. Reproduction is by laying eggs. Because they are reclusive and reluctant to bite, encounters and bites are relatively uncommon compared with how often these snakes are present in their range.

Despite the low frequency of bites, coral snake venom is medically important. It contains potent neurotoxins that can interfere with nerve and muscle function and lead to paralysis, and the effects can sometimes be delayed for hours after a bite, which makes the situation deceptively calm at first. A bite from any Micrurus is a medical emergency that requires professional evaluation, monitoring, and, where indicated, antivenom. This guide does not provide first aid instructions. If a bite occurs, seek emergency medical care immediately, and in the United States you can also contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.