Coral otters

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Coral otters
Texas coral otter (Micrurus tener)

Texas coral otter ( Micrurus tener )

Systematics
without rank: Toxicofera
Subordination : Snakes (serpentes)
Superfamily : Adder-like and viper-like (Colubroidea)
Family : Poison Snakes (Elapidae)
Subfamily : True poisonous snakes (Elapinae)
Genre : Coral otters
Scientific name
Micrurus
Wagler , 1824

The genus of the coral otters ( Micrurus ) contains about 79 species. The distribution area includes North, Central and South America. All species have a highly effective neurotoxin with a postsynaptic effect, and in most species a myotoxin is detectable, which attacks the muscle tissue. A bite can be fatal within 24 hours, but bite accidents rarely occur. In South America, only 0.7% of all bite accidents are due to Micrurus species. In North America, however, it is 2%. Coral otters are not very aggressive. They only bite if you stimulate them very strongly. There are now several highly effective antivenins available, so that there have been hardly any known deaths since then.

The scarlet snake ( Cemophora coccinea ) is a non-toxic snake from the southeastern United States. Since the spots of its drawing sometimes extend to the lower body and thereby form stripes, it can easily be confused ( mimicry ) with the poisonous coral viper or the non-poisonous triangular snake ( Lampropeltis triangulum ) or the red king snake ( Lampropeltis elapsoides ). Note the following donkey bridge : Red on yellow, poison fellow; red on black, safe from attack; or also: red on yellow will kill a fellow, but red on black is a friend of Jack; or also: red on yellow will kill a fellow; red on black, venom lacquer.

A suitable German donkey bridge reads: blood on yolks, killer otters. Blood on coal, for your good.

The non-toxic scarlet snake ( Cemophora coccinea ), an example of mimicry
The non-toxic red king snake ( Lampropeltis elapsoides ), a second example of mimicry
The triangular snake or milk snake ( Lampropeltis triangulum )

Systematics

Historical representation of a coral otter

Web links

Commons : Coral otters ( Micrurus )  - Collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Mark O'Shea: Venomous Snakes. All species in the world in their habitats. Franckh-Kosmos Verlag, 2006, ISBN 3-440-10619-5 .