Micrurus corallinus
Kingdom
Phylum
Subphylum
Class
Order
Suborder
Family
Genus
SPECIES
Micrurus corallinus

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

Animal name origin

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

Distribution

Geography

Continents
Biogeographical realms

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.

Biome

Habits and Lifestyle

Lifestyle

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. 0.2 mg/kg (intramuscular injection), 0.09 mg/kg (intraperitoneal) and 0.04 mg/kg (intravenous).

Show More

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. The amount of venom extracted from this species is 3 mg. The venom of this species has presynaptic activity. 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.

Show Less

Diet and Nutrition

Mating Habits

Reproduction is oviparous, laying up to 15 eggs.

References

1. Micrurus corallinus Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micrurus_corallinus
2. Micrurus corallinus on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/56040806/56040867

More Fascinating Animals to Learn About