The Reptiles and Amphibians of Arizona

Online Field Guide to The Reptiles and Amphibians of Arizona

Sonoran Coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus) Arizona

Santa Cruz County, AZ

Maricopa Co., AZ

Santa Cruz Co., AZ

SONORAN CORALSNAKE Micruroides euryxanthus

Venomous

DESCRIPTION: A small (up to 615 mm or 24″ in total length), slender, brightly-colored snake with red, yellow or cream, and black rings that completely encircle the body. The red bands touch the yellow bands. The scales in the dorsal portion of the red bands often have black edges creating a net-like pattern over the red. Some specimens are marked with heavy black speckling or mottling in the dorsal portion of the red bands. The head and snout are black. The tail usually lacks red bands. The cloacal scute is red on Arizona specimens. The blunt head is barely distinct from the neck and the tail is relatively short and blunt. The pupils are round and the scales are smooth and shiny. Its black snout distinguishes this snake from the similar looking Western Shovel-nosed Snake and Sonoran Shovel-nosed Snake.

DISTRIBUTION: This snake is found across most of the southern portion of the state below approximately 6,000′ elevation. Its distribution in the low deserts of western Arizona is spotty and poorly known.

HABITAT: The Sonoran Coral Snake is found in communities ranging form Sonoran, Mohave, and Chihuahuan desertscrubs, through Semidesert Grassland, and into the lower reaches of the woodlands. It is usually encountered above the flats in or near rocky or gravelly drainages, mesquite lined washes, and canyons.

BEHAVIOR: This ground-dwelling snake is primarily nocturnal or crepuscular but it can be active around the clock when conditions are favorable. It hibernates during the cold months of late fall and winter. When threatened this snake hides its head beneath the coils, curls and presents the tail (exposing the bright red cloacal scute), and makes a popping noise by everting the lining of the cloaca. This display is presumably designed to divert the predator’s attention to the tail instead of the head.

DIET: Like other Elapids this snake feeds primarily on ectotherms. It uses its neurotoxic venom to subdue a variety of small snakes including threadsnakes, groundsnake’s, and black-headed snakes. It also occasionally feeds on small lizards.

REPRODUCTION: A clutch of up to 3 eggs is laid during the summer monsoon (July-August).

REMARKS: This is Arizona’s only representative from the Elapidae, a family of snakes that includes mambas, cobras, kraits, and taipans. It delivers neurotoxic venom through fixed, hollow fangs in the front of the mouth. There have been no reported deaths from its bite in Arizona but this snake should be considered dangerous and should not be handled.

By Thomas C. Brennan

Bartlett. 2000. Snakes of North America: Western
Region. Gulf Publishing Co. Houston, TX

Brennan, T. C., and A. T. Holycross. 2006. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles in Arizona. Arizona Game and Fish Department. Phoenix, AZ

Brennan, T. C., and A. T. Holycross. 2005. A Field Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Maricopa County. Arizona Game and Fish Department. Phoenix, AZ

Degenhardt, W. G., Painter, C. W., and Price, A. H.. 1996. Amphibians and Reptiles of New Mexico. University of New Mexico Press. Albuquerque.

Fowlie. 1965. The Snakes of Arizona. Azul Quinta Press, Fallbrook, California

Lowe, Schwalbe, Johnson. 1986. The Venomous Reptiles of Arizona. Nongame Branch
Arizona Game and Fish Department. Phoenix, AZ

Stebbins. 1985. Western Reptiles and Amphibians. Houghton Mifflin. New York, NY

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