The eastern coral snake, aka common coral snake or American cobra, hails from the southeastern portion of the United States. These venomous snakes are sometimes confused with the Texas or Sonoran coral snakes. All of which are highly venomous. The eastern coral snake is touted as being one of, if not the most venomous snake in North America. Due to a stable population and not many adversities, these snakes are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Although, they do face the threats of habitat destruction at the hands of residential and commercial development; as well as invasive species.
First the Stats…
Scientific name: Micrurus fulvius
Weight: Up to 1+ lbs.
Length: Up to 4 feet
Lifespan: Up to 7+ years
Now on to the Facts!
1.) These snakes are often confused with the scarlet kingsnake or scarlet snake. As a result, many scarlet snakes and scarlet kingsnakes are killed due to mistaken identities by people thinking the scarlets are venomous. The scarlet snake and scarlet kingsnake both use mimicry as a defense mechanism.
2.) Males have longer tails than females, but females are typically much longer than males.
3.) Eastern coral snakes prefer glade lands, live oak hammocks, scrub oaks, slash pines, high pines, and wiregrass flatwoods. They can also be found in a variety of other heavily vegetated habitats.
4.) Like so many other snakes, they are solitary and only come together to mate.
5.) The eastern coral snake is primarily fossorial (spend most of their lives underground).
But wait, there’s more on the eastern coral snake!
6.) They are most active in Spring – Fall, and these snakes will brumate (hibernation for reptiles) in their burrows during colder winter months.
7.) These snakes are not defensive and, if threatened, they prefer to musk (release a smelly liquid from their cloaca) rather than bite.
Did you know…?
Approximately 4 – 5 mg of venom from these snakes can kill a human or large pet. These snakes tend to deliver up to 20 mg of neurotoxic venom in a single bite though!
8.) The effects of an envenomation from these snakes can cause dizziness, drooling, slurred speech, double vision, muscle and respiratory weakness, paralysis, and eventual death.
9.) Numerous companies, including a U.S. manufacturer of coral snake anti-venom, stopped making the medications because it was no longer cost effective. The remaining doses of antivenom is typically a medication called NACSA.
10.) Although not seen in these snakes, a group of snakes is called a bed, den, knot, nest, or pit.
But wait, there’s still more on the eastern coral snake!
11.) These snakes prey on frogs, lizards, smaller snakes, and even each other.
12.) Eastern coral snakes breed from late spring to early fall.
Did you know…?
The eastern coral snake suffers from the introduction of the fire ant, which attacks the eggs and baby snakes.
13.) Females lay up to 12 eggs underground or under leaf litter.
14.) Eggs hatch in up to 70 days.
15.) The snakelets are born precocial (self sufficient), measure up to 9 inches, and are fully venomous.
But wait, there’s still a little more on the eastern coral snake!
16.) They also go by other names, like Florida coral snake, candy-stick snake, candy cane snake, coral adder, North American coral snake, red bead snake, Elaps harlequin snake, harlequin coral snake, thunder-and-lightning snake and, in Spanish – Serpiente-coralillo arlequín (which translates to harlequin coral snake).
17.) An old rhyme was created to teach people the difference between the venomous coral snake and kingsnakes, is stated as red touches black, friend of Jack. Red touches yellow, kill a fellow. But this adage does not apply to coral snakes from the Caribbean or Central and South America. Nor does it apply to the blue Malayan coral snake.
18.) Eagles, hawks, buzzards, owls, storks, and some mammals all prey on coral snakes.
19.) An average of 47 bites, each year, are reported in Florida from coral snakes. Most bites are a result of harassing the snake or stepping on 1.
20.) Eastern coral snakes tend to be nocturnal (active at night), but they can display diurnal (active during the day) behaviors.
Now a Short Eastern Coral Snake Video!
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