Central American Coral Snake
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Central American Coral Snake
The most commonly encountered coral snake in Costa Rica is the Central American coral snake. This species is distinguished by a pattern of red, yellow, and black body rings with the red rings bordered on both sides by yellow, as well as the bright yellow band across the head. The Central American coral snake is a medium sized coral snake and doesn’t typically grow over 45 inches in length. The scales are smooth on both body and tail and the head appears blunt with very small eyes and this particular coral snake has very poor eyesight.
Coral snakes are secretive, burrowing animals that spend a majority of their time in soil, fallen leaves, stumps, or rock crevices. These snakes are quite common, although infrequently encountered. They are found in a variety of habitats ranging from dry, rocky areas to marshes, rainforests, and even cultivated fields. These snakes can even be found on the outskirts of San Jose. The Central American coral snake is not strictly nocturnal like many people believe, as they have been observed foraging, eating and mating during the daytime as well.
Their diet consists mainly of other snakes, but they will also eat lizards also. They will even prey on members of their own species and ironically; are not even immune to their own venom as they’ve been observed on occasion found dead with its own fangs imbedded in its body. Coral snakes normally grab their prey and hold on in order to chew in the venom. The toxicity of the venom quickly paralyzes its prey and once the victim becomes motionless, they will be eaten headfirst.
Eggs are usually deposited in leaf litter or in the dirt of the forest floor. The eggs will hatch after about a 2 to 3 month incubation period.
It is not true that only the male of the species is poisonous….. just so you know.
