Venezuelan Coral Snake
Micrurus isozonus
A tricolor coral snake of Venezuela's lowlands and llanos, notable for evenly spaced black rings of roughly equal width to the red bands.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- Adult length
- 0.6-1.0 m (2-3.3 ft)
- Range
- Northern Venezuela and adjacent Colombia
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Overview
The Venezuelan coral snake is found across the lowlands and grasslands of northern Venezuela, extending into parts of neighboring Colombia. Its species name isozonus references the relatively even width of its colored rings.
It is a member of the diverse Micrurus genus of New World coral snakes, all of which carry potent neurotoxic venom but are generally non-aggressive and avoid confrontation.
How to identify it
- Red, black, and white/yellow rings forming triads of roughly even width
- Smooth, glossy scales
- Small head with black cap, indistinct from neck
- Round pupils
- Moderate body length, up to about 1 m
- Differentiated from similar sympatric coral snakes by ring proportions and scale row counts
Habitat & range
Inhabits lowland tropical forests, savannas, and llanos grasslands of northern Venezuela and adjacent Colombia. Found from sea level to moderate elevations, sheltering under leaf litter, logs, and loose soil.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Fossorial and nocturnal to crepuscular, rarely seen in the open during the day. Feeds mainly on other snakes and elongate lizards such as skinks. Egg-laying, with clutches typically produced during the wet season.
Frequently asked questions
How dangerous is the Venezuelan coral snake?
It is venomous with neurotoxic venom, but bites are rare because it is shy, fossorial, and avoids human contact.
What habitat does it prefer?
Lowland forests, savannas, and llanos grasslands across northern Venezuela and nearby Colombia.
What does isozonus mean?
It refers to the roughly equal width of the colored bands encircling its body.
Venezuelan Coral Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Venezuelan Coral Snake.
