| Micrurus dissoleucus | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Micrurus |
| Species: | M. dissoleucus |
| Binomial name | |
| Micrurus dissoleucus (Cope, 1860) | |
 | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Micrurus dissoleucus, also known commonly as the pygmy coral snake and la candelilla in Spanish, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to extreme southern Central America and extreme northern South America. There are four recognized subspecies.[2]
Description
Very small for the genus Micrurus, adults of Micrurus dissoleucus usually have a total length (tail included) of 28–45 cm (11–18 in).[3]
Geographic distribution
Micrurus dissoleucus is found in northern Colombia, Panama, and northern Venezuela.[2]
Habitat
Micrurus dissoleucus is found in a variety of habitats, including forest, savanna, shrubland, deforested areas, and towns, at elevations from sea level to 1,000 m (3,300 ft).[1]
Behavior
Micrurus dissoleucus is terrestrial.[1]
Reproduction
Subspecies
Four subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[2]
- Micrurus dissoleucus dissoleucus (Cope, 1860)
- Micrurus dissoleucus dunni Barbour, 1923
- Micrurus dissoleucus melanogenys (Cope, 1860)
- Micrurus dissoleucus nigrirostris Schmidt, 1955
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Micrurus.
Etymology
The subspecific name, dunni, is in honor of American herpetologist Emmett Reid Dunn.[2]
References
- Ibáñez, R.; Jaramillo, C.; Stafford, P.; McCranie, J.R.; Renjifo, J.; Gutiérrez-Cárdenas, P.; Caicedo, J.; Rivas, G. (2015). "Micrurus dissoleucus ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015 e.T177541A1492439. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T177541A1492439.en. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
- Species Micrurus dissoleucus at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
- Roze, J.A. (1996). Coral Snakes of the Americas. Malabar, Florida: Krieger Publishing Company. ISBN 0-89464-847-0. xii + 328 pp., 38 maps, 63 color photographs, 49 color pattern drawings. (Micrurus dissoleucus, including subspecies, pp. 158–161 + Map 13 + Color 17 + Pattern 16–17).
Further reading
- Barbour, T. (1923). "Notes on Reptiles and Amphibians from Panama". Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (129): 1–16. (Micrurus dunni, new species, p. 15).
- Cope, E.D. (1860). "Catalogue of the Venomous Serpents in the Museum of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, with notes on the families, genera and species". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 1859: 332–347. [Volume 11]. (Elaps dissoleucus, new species, pp. 345–346).
- Cope, E.D. (1860). "Supplement to 'A Catalogue of the Venomous Serpents in the Museum of the Academy,' etc". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 1860: 72–74. [Volume 12]. (Elaps melanogenys, new species, p. 72).
- Freiberg, M. (1982). Snakes of South America. Hong Kong: T.F.H. Publications. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. 189 pp. (Micrurus dissoleucus, p. 114).