Snake FinderField Guide · Worldwide

Elapidae

Speckled Coralsnake

Venomous

Calliophis maculiceps

Speckled Coralsnake
Calliophis maculiceps, © Ian Dugdale
Speckled CoralsnakeSpeckled Coralsnake

3 photographs of the Speckled Coralsnake. © Ian Dugdale.

The Speckled Coralsnake (Calliophis maculiceps) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 8 countries.

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 Speckled Coralsnake

Calliophis maculiceps, commonly known as the speckled coral snake or the small-spotted coral snake, is a species of venomous elapid snake endemic to Southeast Asia. Five subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies.

Geographic range

C. maculiceps is found in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

Subspecies

The following five subspecies are considered valid:

Calliophis maculiceps atrofrontalis (Sauvage, 1877)

Calliophis maculiceps hughi (Cochran, 1927)

Calliophis maculiceps maculiceps (Günther, 1858)

Calliophis maculiceps michaelis Deuve, 1961

Calliophis maculiceps smithi Klemmer, 1963

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Calliophis.

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Speckled Coralsnake

Is the Speckled Coralsnake venomous?
Yes. The Speckled Coralsnake (Calliophis maculiceps) 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 Speckled Coralsnake poisonous?
Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Speckled Coralsnake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
Is the Speckled 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 Speckled Coralsnake live?
The Speckled Coralsnake has verified records in 8 countries, including Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia. See the distribution section below for its full range.

If you are bitten by the Speckled 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

ThailandViet NamCambodiaMyanmarMalaysiaLao People’s Democratic RepublicChinaIndia

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 maculiceps

Keep learning

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