Micrurus diastema

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Micrurus diastema

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Micrurus
Species:
M. diastema
Binomial name
Micrurus diastema
(
A.H.A. Duméril
, 1854)
Synonyms[2]
  • Elaps diastema
    A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854
  • Micrurus diastema
    Schmidt, 1933

Micrurus diastema, commonly known as the variable coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to southeastern Mexico and northern Central America.[1] There are seven recognized subspecies.[3]

Distribution and habitat

M. diastema occurs in tropical wet, moist, and dry forest from near sea level to 1,250 m (4,100 ft) in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.[1]

Reproduction

M. diastema is

oviparous.[2]

Subspecies

There are seven

  • Micrurus diastema affinis (Jan, 1858)
  • Micrurus diastema aglaeope (Cope, 1860)
  • Micrurus diastema alienus (F. Werner, 1903)
  • Micrurus diastema apiatus (Jan, 1858)
  • Micrurus diastema diastema (
    A.H.A. Duméril
    , 1854)
  • Micrurus diastema macdougalli Roze, 1967
  • Micrurus diastema sapperi (F. Werner, 1903)

Etymology

The

naturalist species:Thomas Baillie MacDougall (1896–1973).[4]

The subspecific name, sapperi, is in honor of German explorer

References

Further reading

  • Duméril A-M-C, Bibron G, Duméril A[-H-A] (1854). Erpétologie générale ou histoire naturelle complète des reptiles. Tome septième. Deuxième partie. Comprenant l'histoire des serpents venimeux (= General Herpetology or Complete Natural History of the Reptiles. Volume 7. Second Part. Containing the [Natural] History of the Venomous Snakes). Paris: Roret. xii + pp. 781–1536. (Elaps diastema, new species, p. 1222). (in French).
  • .
  • Schmidt KP (1933). "Preliminary Account of the Coral Snakes of Central America and Mexico". Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Zool. Ser. 20 (6): 29-40. (Micrurus diastema, new combination, pp. 38–39).