Calliophis bivirgatus
Calliophis bivirgatus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Elapidae |
Genus: | Calliophis |
Species: | C. bivirgatus
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Binomial name | |
Calliophis bivirgatus (F. Boie, 1827)
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Synonyms | |
Calliophis bivirgatus is a species of snake in the family Elapidae known commonly as the blue coral snake[1] or blue Malayan coral snake.[2][3] It is native to Southeast Asia.[1]
Geographic range and distribution
This terrestrial snake occurs in
There are three subspecies:[3]
- C. b. bivirgatus – Indonesia
- C. b. flaviceps – Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Burma
- C. b. tetrataenia – Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei
Description
This species was assigned to the new world coral snake genus
This is a medium-sized coral snake with a slender body. The adult can reach 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) long. It has a red head, tail and belly. The back is dark blue to black in color, and it usually has a large blue[2] or white stripe on each flank.[5]
The snake, especially when juvenile, is often confused with the
Biology
This uncommon snake is considered semi-
Venom
Blue coral snake venom has only occasionally caused human deaths.[6] This species has unusually long venom glands, extending to 25% of the length of the body.[6] The venom contains a neurotoxin, Calliotoxin, that causes near instantaneous paralysis by delaying inactivation of the prey's sodium channels.[7] This effect has not been observed in humans. The venom also contains phosphodiesterases, which promote the release of adenosine, causing in turn hypotension, inflammation, and neurotransmitter blockade in prey items and other bite victims.[6] This ability is especially important as their prey consists mostly of other venomous snakes.
In humans, local effects of a bite self-resolve without complication and systemic effects are rare. [8]
There is hope that the venom may eventually prove useful in the management of chronic pain in humans.[9]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Grismer, L. & Chan-Ard, T. 2012. Calliophis bivirgata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 18 February 2016.
- ^ a b c d Calliophis bivirgatus. Ecologyasia. 2016.
- ^ a b c d Calliophis bivirgata. Reptile Database.
- ^ J. B. Slowinski, J. Boundy and R. Lawson. 2001. The phylogenetic relationships of Asian coral snakes (Elapidae: Calliophis and Maticora) based on morphological and molecular characters. Herpetologica 57(2) 233-245
- ^ Coral snakes: colors, bites, farts, and facts. Livescience. 16 December 2014.
- ^ a b c Tan, C. H., et al. (2015). Unveiling the elusive and exotic: Venomics of the Malayan blue coral snake (Calliophis bivirgata flaviceps). Journal of Proteomics 132, 1.
- PMC 7915963.
- ^ Mackessey, Stephen (2021). Handbook of Venoms and Toxins of Reptiles (2nd edition.).
- ^ "The Venom From This Beautiful Snake Will Murder You Horribly". ScienceAlert. 31 October 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2019.
Further reading
- Boie F. 1827. "Bemerkungen über Merrem's Versuchs eines Systems der Amphibien. 1te Lieferung: Ophidier ". Isis von Oken 20: 508-566. (Elaps bivirgatus, p. 556).
- Boulenger GA. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and FRancis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Doliophis bivirgatus, pp. 400–401).
- ISBN 0-88359-061-1. (Calliophis bivirgata [sic], p. 61).
- ISBN 9780789493934.