Redtail Coral Snake

The redtail coral snake is a small, secretive elapid found in humid forests of Central and northern South America. It is best known for its unusual bicolor pattern: most of the body is ringed in black and white or pale bands, while the tail and sometimes the head are washed in bright orange-red, a pattern quite different from the classic tricolor rings of many other coral snakes.

Like all coral snakes, it possesses potent neurotoxic venom used primarily to subdue its prey, though it is a shy species rarely encountered by people.

• Body pattern of narrow black rings alternating with white or cream, lacking the red body rings typical of many congeners
• Tail and often the head region suffused with vivid orange to red coloration
• Smooth, glossy scales; cylindrical body typical of fossorial elapids
• Small, rounded head barely distinct from the neck; round pupils
• Separated from similarly patterned harmless snakes by its short tail, fixed small fangs, and lack of a robust triangular head

Found in lowland and premontane humid forests from near sea level up to roughly 1,500 m elevation. It spends most of its time hidden under leaf litter, logs, and loose soil, emerging mainly at the surface during rain or at night.

Primarily fossorial and nocturnal, rarely seen in the open. Feeds mainly on other snakes and elongate reptiles, subduing prey with its venom. Egg-laying, with reproductive habits still poorly documented due to its secretive lifestyle.