Striped Coral Snake

The Striped Coral Snake is one of the larger and more widely distributed coral snake species in South America, ranging across much of the Amazon Basin and into the drier Cerrado and Chaco regions further south. It is considered one of the more medically important coral snakes on the continent due to its size and relatively broader distribution.

Despite its striking warning coloration, it remains a secretive, largely fossorial species that avoids confrontation and is rarely encountered by people.

• Bold tricolor banding of red, black, and white or yellow rings encircling the body
• Black bands typically bordered by narrow white or yellow rings, with broader red bands between
• Smooth, glossy scales on a cylindrical body
• Small head barely wider than the neck, with round pupils
• Ring pattern varies geographically and should be identified with care, as mimicking non-venomous species share similar colors

Occurs across a broad range of habitats in South America, including tropical rainforest, gallery forest, savanna, and Chaco woodland, from the Amazon Basin south through Bolivia, Paraguay, and into northern Argentina.

Fossorial and secretive, spending most of its life hidden in leaf litter, loose soil, or under logs, emerging mainly at night or after rain. Feeds primarily on other snakes and amphisbaenians. Lays eggs. Bites are uncommon but can be medically serious given its potent venom.