Micrurus camilae

Micrurus camilae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Micrurus
Species:
M. camilae
Binomial name
Micrurus camilae

Micrurus camilae otherwise known as Camila's Coralsnake is a species of coral snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Colombia. Not much is known about this species, all data originates from 5 collected specimens and several observations.

Etymology

The specific name, camilae, is in honor of María Camila Renjifo, a doctor with a Ph.D in Tropical Medicines from Colombia

Description

The color pattern of Micrurus camilae is unique for its genus. For the full length of the body, it consists of bicolor markings alternating with rings which are yellow ventrally and laterally, but red dorsally, giving the impression of a broad red vertebral stripe, interrupted by the black rings. This characteristic distinguishes it from all other snakes in the genus Mircurus However, on the tail, the colored rings are completely red.

Close-up of Micrurus camilae

Geographic distribution

Micrurus camilae is endemic to the lowland inter-Andean regions of northern Colombia, in the departments of Antioquia, Córdoba, Santander, and Sucre.

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Micrurus camilae is low land forest, at elevations around 900 m (3,000 ft). The natural habitat of M. camilae overlaps with human villages making the risk of snake bites a problem because the snake is venomous.

Behavior

Micrurus camilae is terrestrial.

Reproduction

Micrurus camilae is oviparous.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ines Hladki, A.; Ramírez Pinilla, M.; Renjifo, J.; Urbina, N. (2016). "Micrurus camilae ". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016 e.T44581946A44581949. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T44581946A44581949.en. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Micrurus camilae ". The Reptile Database. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "María Camila Renjifo". Uniandes (in Spanish). 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2026-06-15.

Further reading

  • Barrera Ocampo, Felipe; Bran-Castrillón, Carlos (2023). "First Dietary Record for Camila's Coralsnake, Micrurus camilae (Squamata: Elapidae), Predation on a Caecilian (Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae)". Reptiles & Amphibians. 30 (1): e19495.
  • Meneses-Pelayo, Elson; Caballero, Diana (2019). "New records and an updated map of distribution of Micrurus camilae Renjifo & Lundberg, 2003 (Elapidae), for Colombia". Check List. 15 (3): 465–469.
  • Pelaez Plazas, Sergio Alejandro; Perlaza Berrio, Lilia Alejandra (2020). "Ampliación del área de distribución de Micrurus camilae (Serpentes: Elapide) en el Caribe colombiano". Biota Colombiana. 21: 104–108. (in Spanish).
  • Renjifo, J.M.; Lundberg, M. (2003). "Una especie nueva de serpiente coral (Elapidae, Micrurus), de la región de Urrá, Municipio de Terra Alta, Córdoba, noroccidente de Colombia ". Revista de la Academia Colombiana Ciencias Exactas Fisicas y Naturales. 27 (102): 141–144. (Micrurus camilae, new species). (in Spanish, with an abstract in English).