Micrurus steindachneri (WERNER, 1901)
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Micrurus steindachneri
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| Higher Taxa | Elapidae, Colubroidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes) |
| Subspecies | Micrurus steindachneri steindachneri (WERNER 1901) Micrurus steindachneri orcesi ROZE 1967 |
| Common Names | E: Piedmont coral snake, Steindachner's Coral Snake E: Santiago Piedmont coral snake [steindachneri] E: Pastaza Piedmont coral snake [orcesi] |
| Synonym | Elaps Steindachneri WERNER 1901: 599 Elaps fassli WERNER 1927: 249 Micrurus steindachneri — ROZE 1967 Micrurus steindachneri — WELCH 1994: 89 Micrurus steindachneri steindachneri — FEITOSA et al. 2014 Micrurus steindachneri — WALLACH et al. 2014: 454 Micrurus steindachneri orcesi ROZE 1967 Micrurus steindachneri orcesi — KLUGE 1984 Micrurus steindachneri orcesi — FEITOSA et al. 2014 |
| Distribution | E Ecuador, Peru steindachneri: Ecuador (eastern slopes of the Andes, Macas-Mendez region) orcesi: Ecuador (Pastaza); Type locality: Ecuador, Baños, Meta Trail, 1200 m elevation. |
| Reproduction | oviparous |
| Types | Holotype: NMW 15750, an 800 mm male (R. Haensch). Holotype: UMMZ 88922 [orcesi] |
| Diagnosis | Definition: A single-banded coral snake with a black cap and red bands partially or nearly completely obliterated by black dorsally. The males have no supraanal tubercles (Roze 1996: 220). Description (steindachneri): Males have 200 to 210 (204.1) and females have 227 to 231 (229.0) ventrals; subcaudals 42 to 48 (44.8) in males and 35 to 38 (35.5) in females. Examined: 6 males and 2 females, induding the holotype. The black cap is in contact with the black nuchal band; the latter is about 5 dorsals long and projects forward ventrally onto the second pair of genials. The temporals are light red and brownish, with dark spots. Mental and the first infralabials are black; the rest of the chin is mottled with blackish, brownish, and yellowish spots. The black body bands are 3 to 5 dorsals and 3 to 4 ventrals long. The red bands are 3 to 4 dorsals and ventrals long. They are heavily mottled with black so that the posterior bands are almost completely black, but ventrally they are immaculate. The white body bands are % to 1 dorsal and ventral long. The tail is almost completely black dorsally with irregular light bands or series of transversal white spots. The males have 28 to 38 (34.2) and the females have 38 to 42 (40.0) black body bands. On the tail, the males have 8 to 12 (9.6) and the females have 7 black bands (Roze 1996: 220). Description (orcesi): Males have 214 to 216 (215.0) and females have 224 to 231 (226.8) ventrals; subcaudals 47 to 49 (48.0) in males and 29 to 33 (30.8) in females. Examined: 3 males and 5 females, induding the holotype. The black cap is occasionally reduced on the parietal tips, but it is always in contact with the black nuchal band. Below, the mental and the first infralabials are black, and there are black spots on several other shields. A black spot is usually present on the anterior part of the second pair of genials. The black nuchal band projects forward ventrally but usually does not cover the second pair of genials. The black body bands are 3 to 7 dorsals and 2 to 4 ventrals long. The red bands are usually 3 to 4 dorsals and 2 to 4 ventrals long, partially obliterated by black dorsally but immaculate ventrally. The white bands are faintly indicated by a series of transverse rows of white scales. The tail is black with faintly distinguishable, irregular white crossbands. The males have 24 to 37 (31.1) and the females have 30 to 37 (33.5) black body bands. On the tail, the males have 7 to 9 and females have 4 to 6 black bands; at times these are difficult to distinguish (Roze 1996: 220). |
| Comment | Venomous! |
| Etymology | Named after Franz Steindachner (1834-1919), Austrian zoologist. Obituary in Pietschmann (1919). |
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