Micrurus corallinus

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Micrurus corallinus
Micrurus corallinus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Micrurus
Species:
M. corallinus
Binomial name
Micrurus corallinus
(Merrem, 1820)
Micrurus corallinus Map.jpg
Synonyms

Elaps corallinus

Micrurus corallinus is a species of highly venomous elapid snake native to South America (Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay). [1] [2] [3] There are no recognized subspecies. [3]

Contents

Common names

Common names of this species include painted coral snake, cobra coral pintada, [3] mboi-chumbe, vibora de coral, boicora, bocora, coral-verdadeira, ibiboboca, and mboi-yvyvovo. [2]

Description and Behavior

The painted coral snake is a medium-sized tri-colored snake which can grow to 98 cm (39 in), but most are closer to 65–85 cm (26–33 in). [2] It is a snake with nocturnal habits found on the coastlines, through leaves, on top of logs and stones, its diet is based on lizards, other snakes (including coluibrids), amphisbenids and gymnophils. [4] [5]

The head color is black with a white or yellow back band, which narrows strongly in a dorsal shape, the bodies have wide red rings that are separated by a series of 15–27 (usually 17–21) by wide and narrow black rings and with white borders. The tail has 3 to 8 alternating black and yellow rings. [2] They have a slim body, with a moderately short tail in the case of males and very short in the case of females, the head is round, small and a little distant from the neck. The eyes are slightly small with round pupils. It has smooth and shiny dorsal scales, without apical punctuation. The supra-anal keels are absent in males. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Its range includes South America in Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Norte, Bahia, Santa Catarina, Espírito Santo), northeastern Argentina (Misiones), and Paraguay. It is mainly found in the Amazon basin in tropical deciduous and evergreen forest at elevations ranging from sea level to 500 m. [2]

Reproduction

Reproduction is oviparous, laying up to 15 eggs. [2]

Venom

It is not aggressive towards humans, the group of coral snakes represents only 1% of accidents in Central and South America, however the venom produced by them is highly potent, with neurotoxic action, causing neuromuscular block, which results in death from respiratory arrest, resulting from paralysis of the respiratory muscles. The LD50 for a 5–27 grams mouse is 0,007 mg. [7] [8] 0.2 mg/kg (intramuscular injection), 0.09 mg/kg (intraperitoneal) and 0.04 mg/kg (intravenous).

The venom of this species is compound of the three-finger toxin families, Phospholipase A2, L-amino acid oxidase, True venom lectin, SVMP (snake venom metalloproteinase), Kunitz-type inhibitor (Venom Kunitz-type), NGF (NGF -beta) and Waprin. [9] The amount of venom extracted from this species is 3 mg. [10] The venom of this species has presynaptic activity. [11] M. corallinus has alpha-neurotoxins with pre-synaptic activity that causes a high and spontaneous release of acetylcholine associated with the postsynaptic block of the electrical transmission between the nerve and the muscle. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elapidae</span> Family of venomous snakes

Elapidae is a family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth. Most elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus Emydocephalus. Many members of this family exhibit a threat display of rearing upwards while spreading out a neck flap. Elapids are endemic to tropical and subtropical regions around the world, with terrestrial forms in Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Americas and marine forms in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Members of the family have a wide range of sizes, from the 18 cm (7.1 in) white-lipped snake to the 5.85 m king cobra. Most species have neurotoxic venom that is channeled by their hollow fangs, and some may contain other toxic components in various proportions. The family includes 55 genera with around 360 species and over 170 subspecies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coral snake</span> Large group of elapid snakes

Coral snakes are a large group of elapid snakes that can be divided into two distinct groups, the Old World coral snakes and New World coral snakes. There are 27 species of Old World coral snakes, in three genera, and 83 recognized species of New World coral snakes, in two genera. Genetic studies have found that the most basal lineages have origins in Asia, suggesting that the group originated in the Old World. While new world species of both genera are venomous, their bites are seldom lethal; only two confirmed fatalities have been documented in the past 100 years from the genus Micrurus. Meanwhile, snakes of the genus Micruroides have never caused a medically significant bite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monocled cobra</span> Species of snake

The monocled cobra, also called monocellate cobra and Indian spitting cobra, is a venomous cobra species widespread across South and Southeast Asia and listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caspian cobra</span> Species of snake

The Caspian cobra, also called the Central Asian cobra or Russian cobra, is a species of highly venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Central Asia. First described by Karl Eichwald, a German physician, in 1831, it was for many years considered to be a subspecies of the Naja naja until genetic analysis revealed it to be a distinct species.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cape cobra</span> Species of snake

The Cape cobra, also called the yellow cobra, is a moderate-sized, highly venomous species of cobra inhabiting a wide variety of biomes across southern Africa, including arid savanna, fynbos, bushveld, desert, and semidesert regions.

<i>Naja</i> Genus of snakes

Naja is a genus of venomous elapid snakes commonly known as cobras. Members of the genus Naja are the most widespread and the most widely recognized as "true" cobras. Various species occur in regions throughout Africa, Southwest Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Several other elapid species are also called "cobras", such as the king cobra and the rinkhals, but neither is a true cobra, in that they do not belong to the genus Naja, but instead each belong to monotypic genera Hemachatus and Ophiophagus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas coral snake</span> Species of snake

Micrurus tener, commonly known as the Texas coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to the southern United States and adjacent northeastern and central Mexico. Six subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies, Micrurus tener tener The species Micrurus tener was once considered to be a subspecies of the eastern coral snake.

<i>Micrurus fulvius</i> Species of snake

Micrurus fulvius, commonly known as the eastern coral snake, common coral snake, American cobra, and more, is a species of highly venomous coral snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States. It should not be confused with the scarlet snake or scarlet kingsnake, which are harmless mimics. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egyptian cobra</span> Species of reptile (snake)

The Egyptian cobra is one of the most venomous species of snakes in North Africa, and has caused many snakebite incidents to humans. It averages roughly 1.4 metres (4.6 ft), with the longest recorded specimen measuring 2.59 metres (8.5 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indochinese spitting cobra</span> Species of snake

The Indochinese spitting cobra also called the Thai spitting cobra, black and white spitting cobra, Siamese spitting cobra, is a species of spitting cobra found in Southeast Asia.

<i>Micrurus nigrocinctus</i> Species of snake

Micrurus nigrocinctus, commonly known as the Central American coral snake, is a species of a highly venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Latin America from southern Mexico, Central America, to north Colombia. There are six recognized subspecies, including the nominate subspecies described here.

<i>Micrurus lemniscatus</i> Species of snake

Micrurus lemniscatus, commonly known as the South American coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to South America.

<i>Naja christyi</i> Species of snake

Naja christyi, commonly known as the Congo water cobra or Christy's water cobra, is a species of venomous snakes belonging to the family Elapidae. The species is native to Sub-Saharan Africa.

<i>Aspidelaps lubricus</i> Species of snake

Aspidelaps lubricus, commonly known as the Cape coral snake, Cape coral cobra or coral shield cobra, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to southern Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aquatic coral snake</span> Species of snake

The aquatic coral snake is a semiaquatic species of coral snake in the family Elapidae found in northern South America.

<i>Micrurus frontalis</i> Species of snake

Micrurus frontalis, also known as the southern coral snake or short-tailed coral snake, is a species of highly venomous coral snake in the family Elapidae. It is found in South America.

<i>Micrurus mipartitus</i> Species of snake

Micrurus mipartitus is a species of coral snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Central America and northern South America. The red-tailed coral snake is common in agricultural areas in Colombia. Its highly neurotoxic venom is known to cause seizures in its prey by activating nerve proteins responsible for seizures within it.

Mipartoxin-I is a neurotoxin produced by Micrurus mipartitus, a venomous coral snake distributed in Central and South America. This toxin causes a neuromuscular blockade by blocking the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. It is the most abundant component in the venom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Javan spitting cobra</span> Species of snake

The Javan spitting cobra, also called Indonesian cobra or Komodo spitting cobra, is a species of cobra in the family Elapidae, found in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia, including Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Komodo, and others.

References

  1. 1 2 Cacciali, P.; Carreira, S.; Fitzgerald, L.; Giraudo, A.; Kacoliris, F.; Montero, R.; Scott, N. (2019). "Micrurus corallinus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T56040806A56040867. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T56040806A56040867.en . Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Living Hazards Database (LHD) – Search by Scientific Name" (PDF). Living Hazards Database (LHD).
  3. 1 2 3 Micrurus corallinus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 9 February 2022.
  4. "Micrurus Corallinus - Coral e Peçonhenta | Animais - Cultura Mix". animais.culturamix.com. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  5. Serapicos, Eliana de Oliveira; Merusse, José Luiz Bernardino (December 2002). "Análise comparativa entre tipos de alimentação de Micrurus corallinus (Serpentes, Elapidae) em cativeiro". Iheringia. Série Zoologia (in Portuguese). 92 (4): 99–103. doi: 10.1590/S0073-47212002000400012 .
  6. "WCH Clinical Toxinology Resources". www.toxinology.com. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  7. Tanaka, Gabriela D.; Furtado, Maria de Fátima D.; Portaro, Fernanda C. V.; Sant'Anna, Osvaldo Augusto; Tambourgi, Denise V. (2010). "Diversity of Micrurus snake species related to their venom toxic effects and the prospective of antivenom neutralization". PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 4 (3): e622 [Table 1]. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0000622 . PMC   2834742 . PMID   20231886.
  8. Sant’Ana Malaque, Ceila Maria; Gutiérrez, José María (2016), Brent, Jeffrey; Burkhart, Keith; Dargan, Paul; Hatten, Benjamin (eds.), "Snakebite Envenomation in Central and South America", Critical Care Toxicology, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 1–22, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-20790-2_146-1, ISBN   978-3-319-20790-2 , retrieved 2020-09-30
  9. "Micrurus corallinus ~ VenomZone page". venomzone.expasy.org. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  10. de Castro, Karen Larissa Pereira; Lopes-de-Souza, Letícia; de Oliveira, Daysiane; Machado-de-Ávila, Ricardo Andrez; Paiva, Ana Luiza Bittencourt; de Freitas, Cláudio F.; Ho, Paulo Lee; Chávez-Olórtegui, Carlos; Guerra-Duarte, Clara (2019). "A Combined Strategy to Improve the Development of a Coral Antivenom Against Micrurus spp". Frontiers in Immunology. 10: 2422. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02422 . PMC   6816313 . PMID   31695693.
  11. Seligman, Renato (1993). "Acidente por Micrurus frontalis: primeiro relato de envenenamento elapídico no Rio Grande do Sul" (PDF). Memórias do Instituto de Butantan (in Portuguese). 55 (2): 65–68.
  12. Silva, Alvaro Rossan de Brandão Prieto da (2002). Clonagem, expressão e estudo de alguns cDNAs codificando proteínas estruturalmente relacionadas às alfa neurotoxinas da glândula de veneno da cobra coral Micrurus corallinus (Serpentes, Elapidae) (PDF) (Doctoral thesis). Universidade de São Paulo. doi:10.11606/T.46.2002.tde-17072002-213926.