The Texas coral snake has the traditional coloration associated with coral snakes: black, yellow, and red rings.[3] These rings extend onto their belly.[4] It is capable of growing to 48 in (122 cm) in total length (including tail), but most are closer to 24 in (61 cm).[3] Males are typically smaller than females.[5] It has smooth dorsal scales, a rounded head, and the eyes have round pupils. Albinistic (lacking black pigment) and anerythristic (lacking red pigment) specimens have been found in the wild.[citation needed] "Pastel" (pink, translucent cream, and very light blue) coloration has been noted, and completely black (melanistic) specimens, are known.[citation needed] The Texas coral snake is somewhat larger (longer and stouter) than the eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius), and has a somewhat larger venom yield.[citation needed]
All coral snakes are shy, secretive animals, typically nocturnal. They spend most of their time hiding in leaf litter, under logs. They can be seen crawling on the surface, after heavy rains, when the nighttime temperatures rise above 78 °F (26 °C).[citation needed]
When grabbed suddenly, or sometimes just when touched, they may thrash about, swing around, and bite. Sometimes they are calm, and then suddenly swing around and bite, for no apparent reason.[citation needed]
The primary diet of the Texas coral snake consists of other snakes, primarily earth snakes, and other small fossorial species.[6] It is cannibalistic.[7] It also occasionally eats small lizards,[6] but the consumption of rodents by coral snakes is rare.[citation needed]
Other nonvenomous snakes resemble the Texas coral snake as a form of Batesian mimicry. In the United States only, all three species of venomous coral snakes (Micruroides euryxanthus, Micrurus fulvius, and Micrurus tener) can be identified by the red rings contacting the yellow rings. A common mnemonic device is "red and yellow, kill a fellow. Red on black, friend of Jack". However, this mnemonic is not always accurate, due to the aforementioned color variations, and its usage is dangerous to both snakes and humans.[3]
Venom
[edit]Texas Coral Snake (Micrurus t. tener) foraging in a pine forest at night, Houston Co., Texas (18 May 2017)
Coral snakes are proteroglyphous, meaning they have a pair of deeply grooved, semihollow, chisel-shaped, fixed fangs in the front of its upper jaw, through which venom is injected. Though it was previously thought that they to need to gnaw to inject venom, Coral snakes need only a quick bite to deliver a significant amount of venom. Many bites from coral snakes do not inject any venom at all (known as a dry bite).[citation needed]
Texas coral snake venom contains neurotoxin and myotoxin. Bite victims may experience potentially lethal paralysisormyolysis. Immediate first aid measures for a bite can include removing any jewelry on a limb that has been bitten (in case of severe swelling) and wrapping the bite area moderately tightly in a wide cloth; however, the bitten limb should be moved as little as possible. Bite victims should be taken to the nearest hospital as soon as possible for more advanced lifesaving measures, such as application of antivenom.[8]
The Texas coral snake can deliver 10-12 mg of venom in a single bite.[8]
Because of the low profits, the production of coral snake antivenin has been discontinued for several years.[9][10] Prior to the availability of antivenin, the fatality rate of coral snake envenomations has been estimated at 10%, and death was primarily due to respiratory or cardiovascular failure as a result of paralysis induced by the neurotoxic venom.[citation needed]
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer, produced antivenin for the eastern coral snake, which can also be used for treatment of envenomation by the Texas coral snake. However, the last lot produced (Lot L67530) has an expiration date of January 31, 2020.[11] As of July 2021,[update] Pfizer indicates that antivenom is available[12] and one source states that production has resumed.[13]
The name maculatus (Latin for spotted) refers to the presence of some large black spots in the red bands.
The name microgalbineus is derived from a modern Latin adaptation of the original Greek word micro meaning small and tiny and galbineus, Latin for greenish yellow. The name microgalbineus alludes to the short yellowish bands of this subspecies. [15]
The Texas coral snake was once considered a subspecies of the eastern coral snake, Micrurus fulvius, but more recent research has determined that it has enough morphological differences to be considered its own species.[1]
^ abcdPowell R, Conant R, Collins JT (2016). Peterson Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Eastern and Central North America, Fourth Edition. Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. xiv + 494 pp., 47 plates, 207 Figures. ISBN978-0-544-12997-9. (Micrurus tener, pp. 434-435, Figure 196 + Plate 44).
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Micrurus tener fitzingeri, p. 91).
Baird SF, Girard C (1853). Catalogue of North American Reptiles in the Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Part I.—Serpentes. Washington, District of Columbia: Smithsonian Institution. xvi + 172 pp. (Elaps tenere, new species, pp. 22–23).
Brown BC, Smith HM (1942). "A New Subspecies of Mexican Coral Snake". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington55: 63–65. (Micrurus fitzingeri microgalbineus, new subspecies).
Hubbs B, O'Connor B (2012) A Guide to the Rattlesnakes and other Venomous Serpents of the United States. Tempe, Arizona: Tricolor Books. 129 pp. ISBN978-0-9754641-3-7. (Micrurus tener tener, pp. 89–90).
Jan [G] (1858). "Plan d'une Iconographie descriptive des Ophidiens et Description sommaire de nouvelles espèces de Serpents ". Revue et Magasin de Zoologie Pure et Appliquée, Paris, Series 2, 10: 438–449, 514–527. (Elaps fitzingeri, new species, p. 521). (inFrench).
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 fulvius maculatus, new subspecies, pp. 27–28, Figure 10).
Schmidt KP, Davis DD (1941). Field Book of Snakes of the United States and Canada. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. 365 pp. (Micrurus fulvius tenere, pp. 274–276).
