Brown's coral snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brown's coral snake |
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Micrurus
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browni
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Brown's coral snake (scientific name: Micrurus browni) is a type of venomous snake. It belongs to the family called Elapidae. These snakes live in Guatemala and southwestern Mexico. There are three different kinds, or subspecies, of Brown's coral snake.
Contents
- Who is Brown's Coral Snake Named After?
- Other Names for Brown's Coral Snake
- What Does Brown's Coral Snake Look Like?
- Where Does Brown's Coral Snake Live?
- What Kind of Places Does it Call Home?
- How Does Brown's Coral Snake Behave?
- What Does Brown's Coral Snake Eat?
- How Does Brown's Coral Snake Have Babies?
- About Its Venom
- Different Kinds of Brown's Coral Snake
Who is Brown's Coral Snake Named After?
The name browni honors an American scientist named Wilmot W. Brown Jr.. He was a collector of scientific specimens.
Other Names for Brown's Coral Snake
In Spanish, this snake has many common names. Some of these include Serpiente-coralillo de Brown, coral, coral de Acapulco, and vibora de coral.
What Does Brown's Coral Snake Look Like?
Brown's coral snake can grow to be about 100 cm (39 in) long. That's about the length of a meter stick! However, they are usually smaller, around 50 cm (20 in) to 70 cm (28 in).
This snake has smooth dorsal scales (scales on its back). Its head is rounded, and its eyes have round pupils. The snake's body has three main colors. It has wide red rings, separated by 10 to 27 black rings. Each black ring has two narrow yellow bands on its edges. The very front of its snout is black. Usually, there is also a yellow band across the top of its head, about halfway back.
Where Does Brown's Coral Snake Live?
Brown's coral snake is found in specific areas. It lives in Quintana Roo in southwestern Mexico. It also lives in western Guatemala, including a place called Sacatepequez. Earlier reports that it lived in Honduras were found to be incorrect.
What Kind of Places Does it Call Home?
Micrurus browni mostly lives in tropical deciduous forests. These are forests where trees lose their leaves. You can also find them in pine-oak forests and cloud forests. They live at different heights, from sea level all the way up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) high.
How Does Brown's Coral Snake Behave?
We don't know a lot about how Micrurus browni behaves. But like most other coral snakes, it is probably active at night. It likely lives on the ground (terrestrial) and hides in burrows, under leaves, or under logs.
Even though it's a venomous snake, it's usually not aggressive. However, it will bite if it feels threatened or if someone tries to grab it.
What Does Brown's Coral Snake Eat?
This snake eats small animals. Its diet includes small lizards, amphibians (like frogs), invertebrates (like insects), and even other snakes.
How Does Brown's Coral Snake Have Babies?
Like other snakes in the Micrurus group, Brown's coral snake is oviparous. This means it lays eggs. A female snake can lay up to 15 eggs at one time.
About Its Venom
Not much is known about the exact effects of Micrurus browni venom. However, the venom of other coral snakes often contains neurotoxins. These are poisons that can affect the nervous system and muscles. It is likely that Brown's coral snake venom has similar effects.
Different Kinds of Brown's Coral Snake
There are three recognized subspecies (different types) of Micrurus browni:
- Micrurus browni browni Schmidt & H.M. Smith, 1943
- Micrurus browni importunus Roze, 1967
- Micrurus browni taylori Schmidt & H.M. Smith, 1943
The subspecies name taylori honors an American herpetologist (a scientist who studies reptiles and amphibians) named Edward Harrison Taylor.
