How to Identify the Arizona Coral Snake (Identification Guide)
A small, desert-dwelling coral snake of the southwestern United States, identified by narrow red and black bands separated by thin white or pale yellow rings.
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Key identifying features
The Arizona Coral Snake (Micruroides euryxanthus) is a small, secretive elapid recognized by its bands of red, black, and pale yellow or white circling the body. It is smaller and more slender than the eastern coral snake species, and its banding pattern, while similar in concept, involves narrower pale rings.
Coloration & pattern
The body shows broad red and black bands separated by narrower white or pale yellow rings, with the sequence repeating down the length of the snake and wrapping completely around the body. The pale rings are notably thin compared to the bold yellow bands seen in eastern coral snake species. The head is black, extending onto the neck before the first pale band.
Head, eyes & scales
The head is small, rounded, and blunt, not distinct from the neck, with tiny eyes suited to a burrowing lifestyle. Scales are smooth and glossy. The black head coloration is a helpful identification feature, often extending further back than in other coral snake species.
Size & body shape
This is a notably small species, with adults typically reaching only 30 to 50 centimeters, rarely exceeding 60 centimeters. The body is slender and cylindrical, built for burrowing through loose desert soils rather than surface activity.
Range & habitat where you'll see it
The Arizona Coral Snake is found in the deserts and semi-arid uplands of Arizona, New Mexico, and adjacent Mexico, favoring rocky slopes, desert scrub, and areas with loose or sandy soil. It is highly secretive and fossorial, most often seen at night or after summer rains.
How to tell it apart from look-alikes
Its small size and thin pale rings separating broader red and black bands distinguish it from the bulkier Eastern and Texas Coral Snakes, which have wider yellow bands. Some desert-dwelling banded snakes and juvenile kingsnakes can superficially resemble it, but the Arizona Coral Snake's consistently narrow build and complete ring pattern around the entire body help confirm identification.
Frequently asked questions
How does the Arizona Coral Snake differ from other coral snakes?
It is notably smaller and has narrower white or pale yellow rings separating its red and black bands, compared to the wider yellow bands of eastern species.
How big does this snake get?
Most adults measure only 30 to 50 centimeters, making it one of the smallest coral snake species in North America.
Where does it live?
In desert and semi-arid habitats of Arizona, New Mexico, and adjacent Mexico, favoring rocky slopes and sandy soils.
Is this snake often seen during the day?
No, it is highly secretive and fossorial, most often encountered at night or following summer rains.
Do the bands wrap all the way around the body?
Yes, the red, black, and pale rings encircle the entire body rather than stopping at the belly.