Micrurus stuarti

Micrurus stuarti
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Micrurus
Species:
M. stuarti
Binomial name
Micrurus stuarti
Roze, 1967

Micrurus stuarti (Stuart's coral snake) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Guatemala.[2] There are no recognized subspecies.[3]

Etymology[edit]

The specific name, stuarti, is in honor of American herpetologist Laurence Cooper Stuart.[4]

Common names[edit]

Common names for M. stuarti include Stuart's coral snake, and in Spanish: coral de los volcanes and coral de Stuart.[2]

Description[edit]

M. stuarti can grow to a total length (including tail) of 74 cm (29 in), but most are closer to 50–60 cm (20–24 in). Its color pattern consists of 13–19 relatively broad black rings and very broad red rings, separated by narrow yellow rings. The dorsal scales are smooth, and the red ones are black-tipped. The number of broad black rings on the tail may vary from 3 to 4, separated by narrow red-brown rings.[2]

Geographic range and habitat[edit]

M. stuarti has only been found on the Pacific versant of southwestern Guatemala. Its habitat consists of subtropical wet forest and lower montane wet forest. It may also occur in similar adjacent habitats in southeastern Mexico.[2]

Reproduction[edit]

M. stuarti is oviparous.[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Acevedo, M.; Ariano-Sánchez, D.; Johnson, J. (2013). "Micrurus stuarti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T203632A2769256. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T203632A2769256.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d AFBMP. "Micrurus stuarti ". AFBMP Living Hazards Database. AFBMP. Retrieved 2010-08-05.
  3. ^ "Micrurus stuarti ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  4. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Micrurus stuarti, p. 257).
  5. ^ Species Micrurus stuarti at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

Further reading[edit]

  • Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004). The Venomous Reptiles of the Western Hemisphere. Ithaca, New York: Comstock Publishing Associates, a Division of Cornell University Press. 870 pp. (in two volumes). ISBN 978-0801441417.
  • Roze JA (1967). "A Check List of the New World Venomous Coral Snakes (Elapidae), with Descriptions of New Forms". American Museum Novitates (2287): 1-60. (Micrurus stuarti, new species, pp. 47–49, Figure 17).