Coral snake
Coral snake (Micrurus sp.)
Scientific classification
Unrecognized taxon (fix):	Romeriida
Order:	Squamata
Superfamily:	Elapoidea
Family:	Elapidae

Eastern coral snake, Micrurus fulvius

Colours of the Old World coral snakes can be quite a bit different from the American species. This is the blue Malaysian coral snake, Calliophis bivirgatus

The coral snakes are a large group of elapid snakes. There are two main groups of coral snakes. These groups are Old World coral snakes and New World coral snakes.

• There are 11 species of Old World coral snake in one genus (Calliophis)
• There are over 65 recognized species of New World coral snakes in three genera (Leptomicrurus, Micruroides, and Micrurus).

Coral snakes have notable red, yellow/white, and black colored banding. Most species of coral snake are small. North American species average around 3 feet (91 cm) in length, but specimens of up to 5 feet (150 cm) or slightly larger have been reported. Coral snakes that live in water have flat tails. These tails act like a fin to help the snake swim.

Like all elapid snakes, coral snakes have a pair of small fangs to deliver their venom (some coral snakes are rear fanged). These fangs, which are enlarged and hollow, deliver their venom to their prey species. Coral snakes mostly eat smaller snakes, lizards, frogs, and nestling birds and rodents, etc. The venom takes time to take full effect.