Coral snake
Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake
VenomousMicrurus brasiliensis
5 photographs of the Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake. © Tsssss.
The Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake (Micrurus brasiliensis) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 1 country.
If you are bitten
Coral snake venom is neurotoxic and symptoms can be delayed for many hours. Treat any suspected coral snake bite as a medical emergency and go to an emergency room even if you feel fine — antivenom may be needed. Keep calm and still. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 in the US, or your local emergency number. (Source: CDC.)
- Also called
- Coral snake
- Family
- Elapidae
- Size
- Slender, usually 1.5–3 ft.
- Habitat
- Pine and hardwood forests with sandy, well-drained soils.
- Behavior
- Secretive and semi-burrowing; reluctant to bite but venom is neurotoxic.
- Identify
- Rings of red, yellow, and black where red touches yellow; small rounded head and round pupils.
- Danger
- high (delayed)
About the Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake
Micrurus brasiliensis, also known commonly as the Brazilian short-tailed coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Brazil.
Description
Micrurus brasiliensis may attain a total length (tail included) of 86.5 cm (34.1 in). The snout is white, and the white rings of the triads are as wide as or wider than the black rings.
Geographic distribution
Micrurus brasiliensis is found in the Brazilian states of Bahia, Goiás, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, and Tocantins.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitats of Micrurus brasiliensis are forest, savanna, and grassland with sandy soil, at elevations from sea level to 700 m (2,300 ft).
Behavior
Micrurus brasiliensis is terrestrial.
Diet
Micrurus brasiliensis preys upon amphisbaenians and snakes.
Reproduction
Micrurus brasiliensis is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake
- Is the Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake venomous?
- Yes. The Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake (Micrurus brasiliensis) is venomous and belongs to the Elapidae family (coral snake). Its bite is considered high (delayed) risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
- Is the Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake dangerous?
- Coral snake venom is neurotoxic and symptoms can be delayed for many hours. Treat any suspected coral snake bite as a medical emergency and go to an emergency room even if you feel fine — antivenom may be needed. Keep calm and still. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 in the US, or your local emergency number. (Source: CDC.)
- Where does the Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake live?
- The Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake has verified records in 1 country, including Brazil. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake?
- Rings of red, yellow, and black where red touches yellow; small rounded head and round pupils.
- How big does the Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake get?
- Slender, usually 1.5–3 ft.
- What does the Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake eat?
- Micrurus brasiliensis preys upon amphisbaenians and snakes.
If you are bitten by the Brazilian Short-tail Coralsnake
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
More Elapidae snakes
Texas CoralsnakeMicrurus tener
Eastern CoralsnakeMicrurus fulvius
Central American CoralsnakeMicrurus nigrocinctus
Variable CoralsnakeMicrurus diastema
Painted CoralsnakeMicrurus corallinus
Redtail CoralsnakeMicrurus mipartitus
Costa Rican CoralsnakeMicrurus mosquitensis
Aquatic CoralsnakeMicrurus surinamensis
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
Keep learning
- Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
- Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.