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.[1] There are seven recognized subspecies.[3]
| Micrurus diastema | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Micrurus |
| Species: | M. diastema
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| Binomial name | |
| Micrurus diastema | |
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Distribution and habitat
editM. 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]
Reproduction
editSubspecies
editThere are seven subspecies which are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.[3]
- Micrurus diastema affinis (Jan, 1858)
- Micrurus diastema aglaeope (Cope, 1860)
- Micrurus diastema alienus (F. Werner, 1903)
- Micrurus diastema apiatus (Jan, 1858)
- Micrurus diastema diastema (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)
- Micrurus diastema macdougalli Roze, 1967
- Micrurus diastema sapperi (F. Werner, 1903)
Etymology
editThe subspecific name, macdougalli, is in honor of naturalist species:Thomas Baillie MacDougall (1896–1973).[4]
The subspecific name, sapperi, is in honor of German explorer Karl Theodor Sapper.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c Acevedo, M.; Ariano-Sánchez, D.; Lee, J.; Luque, I.; López-Luna, M.A.; Townsend, J.H. (2020). "Micrurus diastema". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T64021A176644473. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T64021A176644473.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b Species Micrurus diastema at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ a b "Micrurus diastema ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
- ^ a b Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (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; M. d. sapperi, p. 232).
Further reading
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Micrurus diastema.
- 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. ISBN 978-3899731002.
- 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).