How to Identify the Amazonian Coral Snake (Identification Guide)

Key identifying features

The Amazonian Coral Snake (Micrurus spixii) is a large, highly venomous coral snake identified by its bold triads or sequences of red, black, and yellow (or white) rings encircling the body, along with a small, rounded, non-triangular head typical of elapids. It is among the larger coral snake species found in the Amazon basin.

Coloration & pattern

The body shows a repeating pattern of red bands separated by black-and-yellow (or black-and-white) paired rings, often arranged in triads, groups of black-yellow-black bordering wide red sections, running the length of the body. The exact width and grouping of bands can vary somewhat between populations, but the overall red-black-yellow ringed theme remains consistent.

Head, eyes & scales

The head is small, rounded, and barely wider than the neck, lacking the broad, triangular shape of pit vipers. The snout and top of the head are typically black, often with a pale band just behind the black head cap. Eyes are small and dark. Scales are smooth and glossy.

Size & body shape

This is a relatively large coral snake species, with adults reaching 30 to over 48 inches in length, and a moderately thick, cylindrical body compared to some smaller coral snake species.

Range & habitat where you'll see it

The Amazonian Coral Snake is found throughout the Amazon basin, including Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Bolivia. It inhabits lowland tropical rainforest, often found on the forest floor, in leaf litter, or near water, and is largely secretive and burrowing in habit.

How to tell it apart from look-alikes

Several nonvenomous snakes in the Amazon mimic coral snake banding, but true coral snakes like this species have a solid black snout and rounded head shape rather than the more angular or patterned heads of many mimics. Because band arrangement varies regionally among true coral snakes and their mimics in South America, relying on any single 'red touches yellow' rule is not fully reliable across this range, and overall body size, head shape, and band grouping should be considered together.