Medem's Coral Snake
Micrurus medemi
A little-known tricolor coral snake named for Colombian herpetologist Federico Medem, found in Amazonian lowlands.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- Adult length
- 0.5-0.8 m (1.6-2.6 ft)
- Range
- Colombia and possibly adjacent Amazonian lowlands
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Overview
Medem's Coral Snake is a poorly studied species known from limited specimens in Colombian Amazonia. It shares the general biology of other South American coral snakes: fossorial habits and cryptic behavior.
Its taxonomy and range remain incompletely resolved, and it is rarely documented in the field.
How to identify it
- Tricolor ringed pattern of red, black, and yellow
- Slender, cylindrical body
- Small head barely wider than neck
- Round pupils
- Distinguished from congeners primarily by subtle ring and scale count differences
Habitat & range
Inhabits lowland tropical rainforest in the Colombian Amazon basin, usually under leaf litter and forest debris.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Presumed fossorial and nocturnal to crepuscular based on related species. Diet likely consists of small snakes and lizards. Oviparous reproduction is inferred from the genus.
Frequently asked questions
Is Medem's Coral Snake dangerous?
It is venomous but extremely rarely encountered, so risk to people is minimal.
Who was it named after?
It honors Federico Medem, a noted Colombian herpetologist.
Where is it found?
In the Amazonian lowlands of Colombia.
Medem's Coral Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Medem's Coral Snake.
