Micrurus diastema

Micrurus diastema
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Micrurus
Species: M. diastema
Binomial name
Micrurus diastema
(A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & 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 elapid snake, native 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]

Subspecies

There are currently seven recognized subspecies, including the nominotypical subspecies.[3]

Etymology

The subspecific name, macdougalli, is in honor of naturalist Thomas Baillie MacDougall (1896–1973).[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Lee J, Lopez-Luna MA (2007). "Micrurus diastema". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  2. "Micrurus diastema". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
  3. 1 2 "Micrurus diastema". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
  4. Beolens B, Watkins M, Grayson M. 2011. The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. (Micrurus diastema macdougalli, p. 164).

Further reading

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