The aquatic coral snake (''Micrurus surinamensis'') is a

semiaquatic In biology, semiaquatic can refer to various types of animals that spend part of their time in water, or plants that naturally grow partially submerged in water. Examples are given below. Semiaquatic animals Semi aquatic animals include: * Ve ...

species of

coral snake Coral snakes are a large group of elapid snakes that can be divided into two distinct groups, the Old World coral snakes and New World coral snakes. There are 16 species of Old World coral snakes, in three genera (''Calliophis'', '' Hemibungar ...

in the family

Elapidae Elapidae (, commonly known as elapids ; grc, ἔλλοψ ''éllops'' "sea-fish") is a family of snakes characterized by their permanently erect fangs at the front of the mouth. Most elapids are venomous, with the exception of the genus Emydoce ...

found in northern South America.

Common names

Known as Cobra coral, Coral de agua, Coral acuatica venezolana (For ''

Micrurus nattereri ''Micrurus nattereri'' is a species of coral snake in the family Elapidae. Specimens have been identified mostly along the upper Orinoco River The Orinoco () is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes kn ...

''), Coralillo, Coral venenosa, Culebra del agua, Naca-naca, Naca-naca de agua, Boichumbeguaçu, Himeralli, Itinkia, Kraalslang, Koraalslang, Krarasneke, Kraka Sneki and Wata mio.

Description and behavior

''M. surinamensis'' is one of the heaviest and most robust coral snakes, they grow on average 80–100 cm, with a maximum of 135 cm, although there are unproven reports of 180 cm specimens. They are characterized by a long snout, large head, and eyes and nostrils located more dorsally than other coral snakes. The head is mainly red, with sharp black scales, the dorsal scales are thin and shiny, the supra-anal keels are present in males, but little developed. The body has red rings that are separated by 5 to 8 triads, each with a wide middle and two narrow black rings, separated by two narrow cream or yellowish rings. This species is known to have mainly aquatic habits, swims very well and can remain submerged for a long period, it has mainly nocturnal habits, although it can also be active during the day, it is not aggressive towards humans, when it feels disturbed, it flattens the body and raises the tail. Its reproduction is oviparous, but the size of the brood has not yet been reported, it feeds mainly on swamp eels,

bony fish Osteichthyes (), popularly referred to as the bony fish, is a diverse superclass of fish that have skeletons primarily composed of bone tissue. They can be contrasted with the Chondrichthyes, which have skeletons primarily composed of cartilag ...

, other snakes and amphibians.

Range and habitat

It is an endemic species in South America, found in

Bolivia , image_flag = Bandera de Bolivia (Estado).svg , flag_alt = Horizontal tricolor (red, yellow, and green from top to bottom) with the coat of arms of Bolivia in the center , flag_alt2 = 7 × 7 square p ...

Brazil Brazil ( pt, Brasil; ), officially the Federative Republic of Brazil (Portuguese: ), is the largest country in both South America and Latin America. At and with over 217 million people, Brazil is the world's fifth-largest country by area ...

Colombia Colombia (, ; ), officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country in South America with insular regions in North America—near Nicaragua's Caribbean coast—as well as in the Pacific Ocean. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Car ...

Ecuador Ecuador ( ; ; Quechua: ''Ikwayur''; Shuar: ''Ecuador'' or ''Ekuatur''), officially the Republic of Ecuador ( es, República del Ecuador, which literally translates as "Republic of the Equator"; Quechua: ''Ikwadur Ripuwlika''; Shuar: ''Eku ...

Guyana Guyana ( or ), officially the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern mainland of South America. Guyana is an indigenous word which means "Land of Many Waters". The capital city is Georgetown. Guyana is bordered by the ...

French Guiana French Guiana ( or ; french: link=no, Guyane ; gcr, label=French Guianese Creole, Lagwiyann ) is an overseas departments and regions of France, overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France on the northern Atlantic ...

Peru , image_flag = Flag of Peru.svg , image_coat = Escudo nacional del Perú.svg , other_symbol = Great Seal of the State , other_symbol_type = Seal (emblem), National seal , national_motto = "Fi ...

Suriname Suriname (; srn, Sranankondre or ), officially the Republic of Suriname ( nl, Republiek Suriname , srn, Ripolik fu Sranan), is a country on the northeastern Atlantic coast of South America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north ...

and

Venezuela Venezuela (; ), officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela ( es, link=no, República Bolivariana de Venezuela), is a country on the northern coast of South America, consisting of a continental landmass and many islands and islets in th ...

. It occurs mainly in the drainages of the

Orinoco River The Orinoco () is one of the longest rivers in South America at . Its drainage basin, sometimes known as the Orinoquia, covers , with 76.3 percent of it in Venezuela and the remainder in Colombia. It is the fourth largest river in the wor ...

and the

Amazon rainforest The Amazon rainforest, Amazon jungle or ; es, Selva amazónica, , or usually ; french: Forêt amazonienne; nl, Amazoneregenwoud. In English, the names are sometimes capitalized further, as Amazon Rainforest, Amazon Forest, or Amazon Jungle. ...

. It is found in humid forests with low mountains, and tropical forests along streams, rivers and bodies of water. It can also be common in humid lowland forest areas near sea level at 600 meters.

Venom

Studies on ''

Micrurus ''Micrurus'' is a genus of venomous coral snakes of the family Elapidae. Geographic range Species in the genus ''Micrurus'' are endemic to the Americas. Species The following 83 species are recognized as being valid. *'' Micrurus albicinctus'' ...

'' toxins are limited due to low venom production. Snakes of the genus Micrurus have a potent neurotoxic venom that causes

neuromuscular A neuromuscular junction (or myoneural junction) is a chemical synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber. It allows the motor neuron to transmit a signal to the muscle fiber, causing muscle contraction. Muscles require innervation ...

blockage when competitively binding to

acetylcholine receptors An acetylcholine receptor (abbreviated AChR) is an integral membrane protein that responds to the binding of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. Classification Like other transmembrane receptors, acetylcholine receptors are classified according ...

. Bites are rare, but the venom of ''M. surinamensis'' causes paralysis of the cranial nerves, and can be fatal. A well-reported case occurred in the Amazon, where an 18-year-old biology student was bitten on the finger while trying to capture the snake. The victim arrived at the hospital in 20 minutes where he complained of blurred vision, difficulty speaking, swallowing, walking and opening his eyelids. The victim also had

respiratory failure Respiratory failure results from inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, meaning that the arterial oxygen, carbon dioxide, or both cannot be kept at normal levels. A drop in the oxygen carried in the blood is known as hypoxemia; a rise ...

, as well as foam in the nose and mouth. The victim required

mechanical ventilation Mechanical ventilation, assisted ventilation or intermittent mandatory ventilation (IMV), is the medical term for using a machine called a ventilator to fully or partially provide artificial ventilation. Mechanical ventilation helps move a ...

due to severe breathing difficulties.

References

surinamensis Snakes of South America Reptiles of Bolivia Reptiles of Brazil Reptiles of Colombia Reptiles of Ecuador Reptiles of French Guiana Reptiles of Guyana Reptiles of Peru Reptiles of Suriname Reptiles of Venezuela Fauna of the Amazon Reptiles described in 1817 Taxa named by Georges Cuvier Semiaquatic animals {{Elapidae-stub