Micrurus medemi

Micrurus medemi
Conservation status
	; Critically Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Micrurus
Species:	M. medemi
Binomial name
	Micrurus medemi; Roze, 1967
Synonyms
	Micrurus psyches medemi; Roze, 1967;

Last updated September 02, 2025

Micrurus medemi, also known commonly as Medem's coral snake and the Villavicencio coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Colombia.

Etymology

Micrurus medemi was named after Baltic German zoologist Friedrich Johann Graf von Medem.^[2]^[3]^: 174

Geographic distribution

Micrurus medemi is found in central Colombia, in Cundinamarca Department and Meta Department.^[2]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Micrurus medemi is forest, at elevations of 250–600 m (820–1,970 ft).^[1]

Behavior

Micrurus medemi is terrestrial, living in the leaf litter on the forest floor.^[1]

Diet

Micrurus medemi is known to prey upon smaller species of snakes such as Ninia atrata .^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 Calderón, M.; Caicedo, J.R.; Ortega, A. (2019). "Micrurus medemi ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T44581955A44581962.en. Accessed on 01 September 2025.
1 2 3 Species Micrurus medemi at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
↑ Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.

Montoya, Alexandra; Díaz Flórez, Ronald Alessandro; Mancera, Didier (2022). "A new departmental and elevational record for the Villavicencio Coralsnake, Micrurus medemi Roze 1967 (Squamata: Elapidae), in Colombia". Reptiles & Amphibians. 29 (1): 189–190.
Roze, J.A. (1967). "A Check List of the New World Venomous Coral Snakes (Elapidae), with Descriptions of New Forms". American Museum Novitates (2287): 1–60. (Micrurus psyches medemi, new subspecies, pp. 41–42 + Figure 14 on p. 44).
Roze, J.A. (1994). "Notes on Taxonomy of Venomous Coral Snakes (Elapidae) of South America". Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society. 30 (4): 177–185. (Micrurus medemi, new taxonomic status, p. 178).

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[iucn-1] 1 2 3 4 Calderón, M.; Caicedo, J.R.; Ortega, A. (2019). "Micrurus medemi ". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T44581955A44581962.en. Accessed on 01 September 2025.

[RDB-2] 1 2 3 Species Micrurus medemi at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

[3] Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.

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