Coral snakes are found in North and South America and Asia. In the United States, their distribution is concentrated in the south, with the Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius) present from North Carolina to Florida and west to Louisiana. There are some 65 to 83 recognized New World species. All species of coral snakes are venomous, although the potency of their venom varies by species. Coral snakes are relatively small and slender, typically measuring between 2 and 4 feet long. Continue reading to discover the largest coral snake ever recorded.
North American Coral Snakes
The Eastern coral snake has particularly potent neurotoxic venom.
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North American coral snakes have distinctive red, yellow/white, and black banding. Red and black bands alternate along the snake’s body, separated by narrow yellow bands. Black spots and flecks often appear within the red rings. On the tail, black and yellow stripes alternate. The body’s scales are silky and glossy. The popular rhyme red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, friend of Jack, helps distinguish venomous coral snake from nonvenomous lookalikes, such as nonvenomous milk snakes.
North American coral snakes inhabit the Southern Coastal Plains of the United States, ranging from Arizona and Texas to North Carolina, Louisiana, and throughout the state of Florida. They occupy a variety of environments, from dry flatwoods and scrub regions to low, damp areas and edges of swamps. They are timid and are frequently discovered under debris or underground.
Smaller snakes and lizards, as well as nesting birds and small mammals, are the primary food sources for North American coral snakes. To find food, these nocturnal snakes dig through leaf litter with their heads while creeping slowly.
Though a coral snake bite can be fatal if left untreated, recent studies show that while a bite from a North American coral snake can be extremely painful, it rarely necessitates the use of antivenom. However, all coral snake bites should be evaluated by a medical professional immediately, as the venom is toxic and can cause respiratory failure in some individuals.
The Largest Coral Snake Ever Recorded
Unlike most snakes, the Eastern coral snake’s bands of color go completely around its body.
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While most coral snakes average 2 to 3 feet in length, the largest individuals across different species are typically close to 4 feet long. Eastern coral snakes are typically 20 to 30 inches long, although the largest Eastern coral snake on record is just shy of four feet, at 47.5 inches long, while Texas coral snakes (Micrurus tener) have been recorded at 47.75 inches and 48 inches.
