Micrurus collaris (SCHLEGEL, 1837)
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Micrurus collaris
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| Higher Taxa | Elapidae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | Micrurus collaris collaris (SCHLEGEL 1837) Micrurus collaris breviventris (ROZE & BERNAL-CARLO 1988) |
| Common Names | E: Guyana Blackback Coral Snake E: Short black-backed coral snake [breviventris] Portuguese: Cobra-Coral, Cobra-Coral-de-Colar, Cobra-Coral-de-Costas-Pretas, Coral-Verdadeira |
| Synonym | Elaps collaris SCHLEGEL 1837 Elaps gastrodelus DUMÉRIL, BIBRON & DUMÉRIL 1854: 1212 Hemibungarus collaris — BOULENGER 1896 Leptomicrurus collaris — SCHMIDT 1937 Micrurus collaris — ROMANO 1971 Leptomicrurus collaris collaris — ROZE & BERNAL-CARLO 1988: 586 Micrurus collaris — LANCINI & KORNACKER 1989 Leptomicrurus collaris — WELCH 1994: 73 Leptomicrurus collaris — KORNACKER 1999 Micrurus collaris — SLOWINSKI 1995 Micrurus collaris — SLOWINSKI et al. 2001 Leptomicrurus collaris — KOK et al. 2003 Leptomicrurus collaris — CAMPBELL & LAMAR 2004: 129 Micrurus collaris — WALLACH et al. 2014: 444 Micrurus collaris breviventris (ROZE & BERNAL-CARLO 1988) Leptomicrurus collaris breviventris ROZE & BERNAL-CARLO 1988: 587 Micrurus collaris breviventris ROZE 1996: 133 |
| Distribution | Suriname, E Venezuela (Bolivar), Guyana, Brazil (Roraima, Amapa), French Guiana Type locality: unknown (fide STARACE 1998). breviventris: Guyana: Type locality: Oko Mountains, Essequibo, Guayana. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Lectotype, RMNH 1444, a 404 mm male (S.J. Brugmans), designated by Brongersma, 1966: 250. Holotype: FMNH 26658, paratype: MBUCV 8004 [breviventris] |
| Diagnosis | |
| Comment | Not listed by GASC & RODRIGUES 1980. Venomous! Type species: Elaps collaris SCHLEGEL 1837 is the type species of the genus Leptomicrurus SCHMIDT 1937, now a synonym of Micrurus. The genus Leptomicrurus was erected by Schmidt (1937) to accomodate two species of exceptionally slender, short-tailed coralsnakes, L. collaris (Schlegel) and L. narduccii (Jan). These are distinguished from members of the genus Micrurus on the basis of having the mental scale in contact posteriorly with the anterior chinshields, and possessing a body pattern not including rings or bands. Leptomicrurus was interpreted variously with regard to L. collaris (Schmidt 1937, Brongersma 1966, 1967), and Schmidt’s genus was relegated to a junior synonym of Micrurus when specimens of Leptomicrurus with some complete rings and specimens of Micrurus with anterior chinshields in contact with the mental were discovered (Romano 1972). Leptomicrurus has been revalidated and its three species redefined (Roze and Bernal-Carlo 1988). We maintain the synonymy of Leptomicrurus as it nests within Micrurus (CASTOE et al. 2007). Castoe et al. did not synonymize it with Micrurus because “the larger plan was that eventually Micrurus would likely be split into multiple genera, ultimately rectifying Leptomicrurus”, which has not happened (T. Castoe, pers. comm. 7 Jan 2014). See also Silva et al. 2016: 54 for some diagnostic features separating Micruroides, Leptomicrurus, and Micrurus. |
| Etymology | Named after Latin collaris, meaning iron collar or chain for the neck. The name alludes to its conspicuous light collar or nuchal band, the only complete band on the body. M. c. breviventris is named after the Latin brevis for short and venter meaning belly, referring to the low number of ventrals, thus to the short body. |
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