The snake is bright yellow in coloration with black bands, a black nose and yellow head. The red that normally appears next to the yellow bands of this species is faint and seems to blend more with the yellow in certain spots.
Florida herper Tommy Hamrick shared photos of an aberrant Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius), seemingly without the red bands that the venomous snake is known for on Facebook October 19.
The snake is bright yellow in coloration with black bands, a black nose and yellow head. The red that normally appears next to the yellow bands of this species is faint and seems to blend more with the yellow in certain spots. Its a shame that the snake was killed though, because it sure is a beautiful specimen.
This is the normal coloration of an Eastern coral snake. photo by Jay Ondreicka/Shutterstock
Hamrick wrote on Facebook that he picked up the snake from a couple who killed the reptile because they didn’t know what species of snake it was. Hamrick wrote that he is planning to preserve the snake, which is in three pieces or perhaps give it to a museum. The old rhyme red touch yellow kill a fellow, would definitely not work in this case, as it also doesn’t work in all cases with regard to coral snakes.
Top 10 Venomous North American Snakes
Batesian Mimicry and the Evolution of Snakes
Coral Snake Information
Coral snakes possess a highly potent neurotoxic venom that stops nerve transmission, causing respiratory failure and paralysis if not treated immediately. Coral snakes though, tend to be shy and if people leave them alone and don’t pick them up or touch them, they most likely won’t get bit. There are three coral snake species in the United States; the Eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius); the Texas coral snake (M. tener); and the Sonoran coral snake (Micruroides euryxanthus).
