Stuart's coral snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Micrurus stuarti |
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Micrurus stuarti, also known as Stuart's coral snake, is a type of venomous snake. It belongs to the Elapidae family, which includes many well-known snakes. This snake is special because it is found only in Guatemala. Scientists have not found any different types or subspecies of Micrurus stuarti.
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What's in a Name?
The specific name, stuarti, was given to this snake to honor an American scientist. His name was Laurence Cooper Stuart. He studied reptiles and amphibians, which are called herpetologists.
Other Names for Stuart's Coral Snake
People call Micrurus stuarti by a few different names. In English, it's often called Stuart's coral snake. In Spanish, it has names like coral de los volcanes (volcano coral snake) and coral de Stuart.
What Does It Look Like?
Stuart's coral snake can grow to be about 74 centimeters (about 29 inches) long. However, most of these snakes are usually between 50 and 60 centimeters (about 20 to 24 inches) long.
This snake has a very clear color pattern. It has 13 to 19 wide black rings. These black rings are separated by very wide red rings. Between the red and black rings, there are narrow yellow rings. The scales on its back are smooth. The red scales often have black tips. The snake's tail usually has 3 to 4 wide black rings. These tail rings are separated by narrow red-brown rings.
Where Does It Live?
Micrurus stuarti has only been found in a specific area of Guatemala. This area is on the Pacific side of southwestern Guatemala. Its home is in wet forests that are either subtropical or lower montane. This means they live in warm, moist forest areas, sometimes on the lower parts of mountains. It is possible that this snake also lives in similar nearby areas in southeastern Mexico.
Reproduction
Micrurus stuarti is an oviparous snake. This means that the female snake lays eggs. The young snakes then hatch from these eggs.
See also
In Spanish: Micrurus stuarti para niños
