Micrurus diastema explained

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. There are seven recognized subspecies.

Distribution and habitat

M. diastema occurs in tropical wet, moist, and dry forest from near sea level to 1250m (4,100feet) in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.

Reproduction

M. diastema is oviparous.

Subspecies

There are seven subspecies which are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.

• Micrurus diastema affinis
• Micrurus diastema aglaeope
• Micrurus diastema alienus
• Micrurus diastema apiatus
• Micrurus diastema diastema
• Micrurus diastema macdougalli
• Micrurus diastema sapperi

Etymology

The subspecific name, macdougalli, is in honor of naturalist (1896–1973).^[1]

The subspecific name, sapperi, is in honor of German explorer Karl Theodor Sapper.^[1]

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).
• Heimes P (2016). Snakes of Mexico: Herpetofauna Mexicana Vol. I. Frankfurt, Germany: Chimaira. 572 pp. .
• 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).

Notes and References

1. [species:Bo Beolens|Beolens, Bo]