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coral snake
coral snake name for poisonous New World snakes of the same family as the Old World cobras . About 30 species inhabit Mexico, Central America, and N South America; two are found in the United States. The Eastern coral snake ( Micrurus fulvius ), or harlequin snake, is found in the SE United States and N Mexico. It is a burrowing snake with a small, blunt head and a cylindrical body, averaging 2 1/2 ft (75 cm) in length. The body is ringed with bands of black, red, and yellow; the tail has yellow and black rings only. The Sonoran, or Western, coral snake ( Micruroides euryxanthus ) is a rather rare species found in the SW United States and NW Mexico. It is about 18 in. (45 cm) long and has much broader bands of yellow than those of the Eastern species. Coral snakes can be distinguished from a number of similarly colored harmless snakes by the fact that they are the only ones with red bands touching yellow ones. The venom of coral snakes, like that of cobras, acts on the nervous system and causes paralysis; the mortality rate among humans who are bitten is high. However, coral snakes are infrequently encountered because of their burrowing habits, and they seldom bite unless handled. They feed on other snakes and on lizards. Coral snakes are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Reptilia, order Squamata, family Elapidae. |
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"coral snake." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "coral snake." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-coralsna.html "coral snake." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-coralsna.html |
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coral snake
coral snake Poisonous burrowing snake of the Americas and se Asia. It is shy and docile, but has fatal venom. Most species are brightly coloured, ringed with red, yellow, and black. It feeds on lizards, frogs, and other snakes. Family Elapidae.
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"coral snake." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "coral snake." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-coralsnake.html "coral snake." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-coralsnake.html |
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coral snake
cor·al snake • n. a brightly colored venomous snake (Micrurus and other genera) of the cobra family, typically having conspicuous bands of red, yellow, white, and black. |
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Cite this article
"coral snake." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "coral snake." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-coralsnake.html "coral snake." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-coralsnake.html |
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