Coral snake
Western Ribbon Coralsnake
VenomousMicrurus helleri
2 photographs of the Western Ribbon Coralsnake. © Rajan Rao.
The Western Ribbon Coralsnake (Micrurus helleri) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 5 countries.
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 Western Ribbon Coralsnake
Micrurus helleri, also known commonly as Heller's coral snake and the western ribbon coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to South America.
Etymology
The specific name, helleri, is in honor of American zoologist Edmund Heller.
Geographic range
M. helleri is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela.
Description
The color pattern of M. helleri consists of rings (annuli) arranged as follows: wide black rings in triads (groups of three), the black rings separated by narrow white rings, and the triads separated by wide red rings. The holotype has a total length of 64.8 cm (25.5 in), which includes a tail length of 5.2 cm (2.0 in).
Reproduction
M. helleri is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Western Ribbon Coralsnake
- Is the Western Ribbon Coralsnake venomous?
- Yes. The Western Ribbon Coralsnake (Micrurus helleri) 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 Western Ribbon Coralsnake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Western Ribbon Coralsnake is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Western Ribbon 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 Western Ribbon Coralsnake live?
- The Western Ribbon Coralsnake has verified records in 5 countries, including Ecuador, Peru, Colombia. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- How do I identify the Western Ribbon Coralsnake?
- Rings of red, yellow, and black where red touches yellow; small rounded head and round pupils.
- How big does the Western Ribbon Coralsnake get?
- Slender, usually 1.5–3 ft.
- Why is it called the Western Ribbon Coralsnake?
- The specific name, helleri, is in honor of American zoologist Edmund Heller.
If you are bitten by the Western Ribbon 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.