Fauna
Reptile · GBIF taxon 9173089

Eastern Coral Snake

Micrurus fulvius

Also known as Common Coral Snake, American Cobra

Eastern coral snakes spend much of their lives hidden beneath leaf litter, decaying logs, and loose sandy soil. Possessing potent neurotoxic venom, these secretive elapids display bold alternating rings of black, yellow, and red to warn potential predators. Females lay clutches of smooth, elongated eggs in decaying vegetation during early summer, leaving the hatchlings to forage independently for small reptiles.

VenomousSecretiveReptile
Eastern Coral Snake reference1 / 7
Licensed referenceNorman.benton / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Small snakes
  • Glass lizards
  • Small skinks
Predators
  • Kingsnakes
  • Raptors
  • Opossums
ThreatsHabitat loss, vehicle strikes, mistaken destruction
HabitatsPine flatwoods, sandy scrub, oak hammocks, mesic woodlands
Life span7–10 years
Classification
  1. FamilyElapidae
  2. GenusMicrurus
  3. SpeciesMicrurus fulvius
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskVery high
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is very high
Possesses potent neurotoxic venom; keep a safe distance and never attempt to handle.
Why it is dangerous
Injects potent neurotoxic venom that disrupts nerve signals, potentially causing respiratory failure.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Features bright red, yellow, and black body rings with red touching yellow.
What to do
Maintain a distance of at least two meters and never reach blindly into leaf litter.
Responsible observation
  • Observation: Keep a safe distance of at least two meters when photographing or watching.
  • Habitat Safety: Avoid turning over logs or debris with bare hands in sandy woods.
  • Identification: Remember the pattern rule where red rings touch yellow rings in local populations.
Related species
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