Black-headed coral snake
Coral cabeza negra
Cobra coral Cabeça Preta
M. averyi can reach a maximum size of 72 cm. Roze (1996) describes the species as:
"The head is black above and below except for light spots that cover several supralabials and temporals. A red spot is present on the genials. The black bands are usually 2 dorsals (sometimes one) and 2 ventrals long, occasionally reduced or interrupted on the first dorsal. The red bands occupy 12 to 28 dorsals and ventrals, without any black tips or slightly darkened borders. The white bands are frequently reduced to a length of one half a dorsal, so that they form an interrupted series of spots around the black bands. The black tail bands are subequal to the red bands that are obscured by heavy black spotting on each scale. The white tail bands are barely one scale long."
There are 190 to 220 ventral scales and 29 to 48 subcaudal scales (Roze, 1996).
Known only from the type locality, southwestern Suriname, and the region around Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.
Lowland and low montane, nonflooded rain forests in the central Amazon, from 100 to 700 m (Roze, 1996).
Holotype: FMNH 30956
Type-locality: Courantyne District [Guyana], near Brazilian border, at Lat. 1〫 40' N. and Long. 58〫 W. The type locality was further defined in the original description as the Boundary Commission's 'Boundary Camp,' at about 2000 feet above sea level, at the head of Itabu Creek. This creek enters the New River, an affluent of the Courantyne, at New River Depot. Collected by Emmett R. Blake on September 22, 1938.
Micrurus averyi, also known commonly as Avery's coral snake and the black-headed coral snake, is a species of coral snake, a venomous snake in the genus Micrurus of the family Elapidae. The species is indigenous to northern South America.
The specific name, averyi, is in honor of American financier Sewell Avery, who funded the expedition during which the holotype was collected.[2][3]
M. averyi is found in southern Guyana (in the headwaters of Courantyne River[4]), southern Suriname, and Brazil (Pará, Amazonas, Mato Grosso).[1][2]
The preferred natural habitat of M. averyi is forest, at altitudes of 100–600 m (330–1,970 ft).[1]
The head of M. averyi is almost completely black, and there is no nuchal ring. The relatively few black rings on the body are not grouped in triads. The maximum recorded total length (including tail) is 70 cm (28 in).[2]
Micrurus averyi, also known commonly as Avery's coral snake and the black-headed coral snake, is a species of coral snake, a venomous snake in the genus Micrurus of the family Elapidae. The species is indigenous to northern South America.
