State Checklist | Herping in LA | Links | Authors | State Maps
Kisatchie, La.
Photo: Mike
Monlezun
Calcasieu Parish,
La. Photo: Mark Neely
Calcasieu Parish, La.
(emerging from the egg) Photo: Mark Neely
Calcasieu Parish, La.
(emerging from the egg) Photo: Mark Neely
Calcasieu Parish, La.
(emerging from the egg) Photo: Mark Neely
The Texas coral snake is a small snake that can reach lengths of almost 4 feet, but they average much smaller. Most of the ones I have seen are around 2-3 feet long. They differ from the eastern coral snake (Micrurus fulvius) in the fact that the black flecks on the red is more scattered.
These very attractive snakes appear inoffensive and slow, but can move with surprising speed. they can bite more areas than just fingertips as some people believe. The Texas coral snake is at home in the forests but can be found in grasslands and swampy bottomlands as well. Most of the coral snakes that I have received were found while crossing roads during the day. They are frequently found in the Kisatchie area under large rocks.
Coral snakes have the most toxic venom of the venomous snakes found in Louisiana. They quickly immobilize their prey, which consists of mainly snakes and lizards. Mine have eaten Elaphe obsoleta, E. guttata, Virginia striatula, Diadophis punctatus, Farancia abacura, Coluber constrictor, and Storeria dekayi. I have yet to get mine to eat Thamnophis sp., Nerodia, or any rodents.
In 1997, Maike obtained a wild caught, gravid Texas coral snake from the Lake Charles area. She layed 6 eggs of which all hatched in only 46 days. The photo above is of one of the hatchlings just after emerging from the egg. They were layed July 8 and hatched August 23.
Please send comments and/or questions to kj@kingsnake.kingsnake.com
State Checklist | Herping in LA | Links | Authors | State Maps