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Elapidae

Black Coralsnake

Venomous

Calliophis nigrescens

Black Coralsnake
Calliophis nigrescens, (c) Ronith Urs, some rights reserved (CC BY)
Black CoralsnakeBlack CoralsnakeBlack Coralsnake

4 photographs of the Black Coralsnake. (c) Ronith Urs, some rights reserved (CC BY).

The Black Coralsnake (Calliophis nigrescens) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 1 country.

If you are bitten

This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.

Family
Elapidae
Danger
high

About the Black Coralsnake

Calliophis nigriscens, commonly known as the black coral snake or striped coral snake, is a species of venomous elapid snake endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

Geographic range

It is found in India in the Western Ghats, Karwar, Wayanad, Nilgiris, Anamalai, and the Travancore hills at 4,000–6,000 feet (1,200–1,800 m).

Description

See snake scales for terms used.

Rostral broader than long; frontal as long as its distance from the end of the snout, much shorter than the parietals; one preocular and two postoculars; a single temporal; seven upper labials, third and fourth entering the eye; anterior chin shields as long as the posterior or a little shorter, in contact with four labials.

Dorsal scales in 13 rows. Ventrals 232–261; anal usually divided; subcaudals 33–44.

This species comprises several colour varieties, which are connected by insensible gradations; in all the head and nape are black, with an oblique yellow band, sometimes broken up into spots, on each side from the parietals to behind the angle of the mouth, and the upper lip is yellow in front of and behind the eye; lower parts uniform red.

Color variations include the following:

A. Dark purplish brown above, with three or five longitudinal series of black, light-edged spots.

B. The spots confluent and forming three longitudinal black bands edged with whitish.

C. Intermediate between A and B.

D. Dark purplish brown above, with three or five more or less distinct black stripes, which are not light-edged.

E. Pale reddish brown or red above, with five black stripes.

Total length 110 cm (43 in); tail 11.5 cm (4+1⁄2 in).

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Black Coralsnake

Is the Black Coralsnake venomous?
Yes. The Black Coralsnake (Calliophis nigrescens) is venomous and belongs to the Elapidae family (cobra, mamba, coral or sea snake). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
Is the Black Coralsnake poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Black Coralsnake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Black Coralsnake dangerous?
This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
Where does the Black Coralsnake live?
The Black Coralsnake has verified records in 1 country, including India. See the distribution section below for its full range.

If you are bitten by the Black Coralsnake

A venomous snakebite is a medical emergency. Call your local emergency number immediately. In the US, dial 911 or Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222.

Do

  • Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
  • Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
  • Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
  • Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
  • Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
  • Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.

Do not

  • Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
  • Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
  • Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
  • Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
  • Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.

First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.

Where it is found

India

More Elapidae snakes

Classification

How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.

OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
Squamata
FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
Elapidae
GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
Calliophis
SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
Calliophis nigrescens

Keep learning

Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.