Coral Snakes in Southern Texas

The northern coral snake, or Micrurus fulvius, has five subspecies, one of which is found in southern Texas. Micrurus fulvius tener, or the Texas coral snake as it is known, is the only coral snake species found in southern Texas. All the subspecies are basically the same and are named based on the region in which they are found.

  1. Description

    • The Texas coral snake is a slender reptile that grows up to 30 inches long. It has alternating blocks of red and black color broken up by thick stripes of yellow around the body. The snake's head tends to be small like its body and it has rounded pupils. Several non-venomous species mimic its coloration as a defense but are not identical. The saying goes: "red on black venom lack; red on yellow, kill a fellow."

    Range and Habitat

    • The snake prefers forests or dry, open brush areas in which it can bury itself in leaves, or burrow in loose, sandy soil. Coral snakes are found in the southeastern U.S. from the Carolinas and Florida, west into Texas and down to Mexico. The Texas coral snake is found in the most southeastern areas of the state in woodlands and coastal plains.

    Diet

    • The snake is an ambush predator, striking from its hiding places in leaf piles, burrows or while it's buried in sand. Related to the cobras and mambas of India and Africa, it has a highly potent, deadly venom. It uses a neurotoxin to paralyze its prey cutting off the messages from the brain to the muscles. It feeds mainly on small snakes, sometimes its own species, as well as reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects. The snake does not inject venom well and has to chew the toxin into its victim. The venom is lethal to humans but the snake's weak injection ability means fatalities are rare.

    Life Cycle

    • The snake breeds twice a year, from late spring to early summer and late summer to early fall. Just over a month after mating, the female lays a clutch of five to seven eggs. The eggs take two months to hatch and the young are born with fully potent venom and are 7 inches in length. It is not certain how long the snakes live in the wild but in captivity they survive for around seven years.