Alternate name: Sonoran Coral Snake

Family: Elapidae, Coral Snakes view all from this family

Description Red, black, yellowish-white alternating rings. Black head. Smooth scales in rows of 15. Divided anal plate.

Dimensions 33-53.3cm. (13-21")

Warning Coral snakes belong to the same family as the highly venomous cobras, kraits, mambas, and sea snakes. Unlike vipers and pit vipers, coral snakes have fangs that are fixed in position on the front part of the upper jaw and cannot be folded back. Coral snake venom is strongly neurotoxic, affecting the victim’s nervous and respiratory systems, and bites can be fatal. Do not handle these snakes!

Several harmless snakes have color patterns resembling that of the coral snakes. Coral snakes always have a blunt black snout and red, yellow, and black rings that completely encircle the body. There is a yellow ring on both sides of every red ring. Remember: "Red touch yellow, kill a fellow." The harmless Scarlet Kingsnake (a race of Milk Snake) looks like a coral snake but has a red snout, and the red and yellow rings are separated by black rings: "Red touch black, friend of Jack." In the nonvenomous Scarlet Snake, the rings don't completely circle the body as they do in coral snakes, the belly is white, the snout is red and pointed, and the red areas are ringed in black. How to avoid and treat snakebites

Subspecies M.e. euryxanthus.

Breeding 2-3 eggs in a clutch laid in late summer.

Habitat Mountain slopes, rocky uplands and areas.

Range Arizona to Mexico.

Discussion Highly venomous. Dangerous to handle. Appears at night after rainfall. Small snakes form main diet. If threatened it will bury its head in its coil.