Micrurus lemniscatus

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Micrurus lemniscatus
Micrurus lemniscatus.jpg
Micrurus lemniscatus head.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. lemniscatus
Binomial name
Micrurus lemniscatus
Micrurus lemniscatus Map.jpg
Synonyms [2]

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. [2]

Contents

Description

M. lemniscatus is a thin and brightly colored species. Adults measure 60–90 cm (24–35 in) in length, the maximum previously reported was 145 cm (57 in). The snout is black, followed by a narrow white crossband in front of the eyes, then a wider black band including the eyes. The eyes are small, and the rest of the head is red. The body pattern consists of slightly broad red rings that are separated by seven to 17 triads of three black and white rings. The tail has two black triads alternating with white rings.

Behavior

Like many coral snakes, M. lemniscatus is nocturnal and terrestrial, digging in loose soil or litter. It is not aggressive towards humans, although it can attack to defend itself. [3]

Reproduction

Breeding of M. lemniscatus is oviparous, having a clutch size of possibly 20 eggs. [3]

Diet

Alimentation of M. lemniscatus is mainly long-bodied vertebrates such as freshwater eels, gymnotiform fishes, caecilians, lizards, and snakes. [1] [3] [4]

Geographic range

M. lemniscatus is found in Argentina, northern Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, eastern Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, [5] Paraguay, eastern Peru, Suriname, Trinidad, and Venezuela. [2]

Habitat

M. lemniscatus is a widespread species in South America, living in humid forests and lowland forests, in open savannas and gallery forests. It is also found in lowland floodplains, deforested areas or near human habitation, in humid areas or near places with a water source. It occurs from near sea level to an altitude of 1,000 m (3,300 ft). [3]

Venom

The venom of M. lemniscatus is a potent post- and pre-synaptic neurotoxin, which causes a potent and irreversible neuromuscular block in vertebrates. [6] Lemnitoxin, a potent myotoxic PLA2 type toxin, isolated from the venom of M. lemniscatus induces local and systemic myotoxicity after intramuscular and intravenous injection in mice, which is antigenically related to Micrurus nigrocinctus nigroxin, Notechis scutatus notexin, mulgotoxin of Pseudechis australis and textilotoxin of Pseudonaja textilis . [7]

Related Research Articles

<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.

<i>Micrurus</i> Genus of reptiles

Micrurus is a genus of venomous coral snakes of the family Elapidae.

<i>Bothrops atrox</i> Species of snake

Bothrops atrox — also known as the common lancehead, fer-de-lance, barba amarilla and mapepire balsain — is a highly venomous pit viper species found in the tropical lowlands of northern South America east of the Andes, as well as the Caribbean island of Trinidad. No subspecies are currently recognized.

<i>Oxyrhopus petolarius</i> Species of snake

Oxyrhopus petolarius, commonly known as the forest flame snake, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to Central and South America. There are three recognized subspecies.

<i>Erythrolamprus aesculapii</i> Species of snake

Erythrolamprus aesculapii, also known commonly as the Aesculapian false coral snake, the South American false coral snake, and in Portuguese as bacorá, or falsa-coral, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to South America.

<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 Elapidae family also contains the cobras and sea snakes. 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.

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

Micrurus hemprichii, commonly known as Hemprich's coral snake and the worm-eating coral snake, is a species of venomous coral snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to South America.

<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 browni</i> Species of snake

Micrurus browni, commonly known as Brown's coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Guatemala and southwestern Mexico. There are three recognized subspecies, including the nominate subspecies described here.

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

Micrurus corallinus is a species of highly venomous elapid snake native to South America. There are no recognized subspecies.

<i>Micruroides</i> Genus of snakes

Micruroides is a genus of venomous coral snake in the family Elapidae. The genus is monotypic, containing only the species Micruroides euryxanthus.

<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">Snakebite in Latin America</span> Snake Attacks Causing Health Concern

Snakebite envenomation is considered a public health problem in Latin America, with an estimated 70,000 cases annually, but due to underreporting, these numbers may be even higher.

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

Micrurus averyi, also known commonly as Avery's coral snake and the black-headed coral snake, is a species of coral snake, a venomous snake in the genus Micrurus of the family Elapidae. The species is indigenous to northern South America.

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

Micrurus diana, also known commonly as Diana's coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to South America.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 Ines Hladaki, I., et al. (12 authors) (2019). "Micrurus lemniscatus ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T15202912A15201921.en. Accessed on 21 January 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 "Micrurus lemniscatus ". The Reptile Database. Consulted 3 October 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Living Hazards Database (LHD) – Search by Scientific Name" (PDF). Acq.osd.mil. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  4. "Micrurus lemniscatus (Large Coral Snake)" (PDF). Sta.uwi.edu. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  5. Cole CJ; Townsend CR; Reynolds RP; MacCulloch RD; Lathrop A (2013). "Amphibians and reptiles of Guyana, South America: Illustrated keys, annotated species accounts, and a biogeographic synopsis". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 125 (4): 317–620. doi:10.2988/0006-324x-125.4.317. S2CID   86665287.
  6. Floriano, Rafael S.; Schezaro-Ramos, Raphael; Silva, Nelson J.; Bucaretchi, Fábio; Rowan, Edward G.; Hyslop, Stephen (2019-07-01). "Neurotoxicity of Micrurus lemniscatus lemniscatus (South American coralsnake) venom in vertebrate neuromuscular preparations in vitro and neutralization by antivenom" (PDF). Archives of Toxicology. 93 (7): 2065–2086. Bibcode:2019ArTox..93.2065F. doi:10.1007/s00204-019-02476-9. ISSN   1432-0738. PMID   31123802. S2CID   163166169.
  7. Casais-e-Silva, Luciana L.; Teixeira, Catarina F. P.; Lebrun, Ivo; Lomonte, Bruno; Alape-Girón, Alberto; Gutiérrez, José María (2016-08-22). "Lemnitoxin, the major component of Micrurus lemniscatus coral snake venom, is a myotoxic and pro-inflammatory phospholipase A2". Toxicology Letters. 257: 60–71. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.06.005. ISSN   0378-4274. PMID   27282409.

Further reading