Mertens' Coralsnake
Micrurus mertensi
Micrurus mertensi, also known commonly as Mertens's coral snake, the Peruvian desert coral snake, and la coral peruana del desierto in South American Spanish, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to northwestern South America.
From the article Micrurus mertensi on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), quoted section by section
Description
Micrurus mertensi is medium to large for the genus Micrurus. Adults usually have a total length (tail included) of 50–80 cm (20–31 in), but the maximum recorded total length is 111.5 cm (43.9 in). Like most New World coral snakes, the color pattern of M. mertensi consists of a combination of red, black, and white (or yellow) rings. The red rings are widest, and some of the included dorsal scales may have small black tips. The black rings are slightly narrower and are not arranged in triads. The white rings, which separate the red from the black, are narrowest and may not extend across the venter.
Range & habitat
Micrurus mertensi is found in a variety of habitats, including forest, shrubland, and desert, at elevations from near sea level to 2,400 m (7,900 ft), usually near a river or stream.
Wikipedia: “Habitat”
What it does
Micrurus mertensi preys on snakes (ophiophagy), including blind snakes such as Epictia subcrotilla, and the venomous pit viper Bothrops pictus.
Wikipedia: “Diet”
Toxicity
The average venom yield obtained by scientists "milking" Micrurus mertensi was 2 mg (dry weight). The lethal dose for an adult human is unknown.
Wikipedia: “Venom”
Where it lives
Recorded sightings
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geo-referenced records in GBIF, from museums, herbaria and field observers.
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In the stacks
Searching the stacks…
Every page naming Micrurus mertensi in the Biodiversity Heritage Library →
This page is assembled live from iNaturalist, GBIF, Wikipedia, the Source Library and the Internet Archive. It is not yet part of the hand-edited codex. iNaturalist taxon 30548.