Micrurus diastema

Micrurus diastema, commonly known as the variable coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to southeastern Mexico and northern Central America.^[1] There are seven recognized subspecies.^[3]

Micrurus diastema
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Micrurus
Species:	M. diastema
Binomial name
Micrurus diastema (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)
Synonyms[2]
Elaps diastema A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854 Micrurus diastema — Schmidt, 1933

Distribution and habitat

M. diastema occurs in tropical wet, moist, and dry forest from near sea level to 1,250 m (4,100 ft) in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.^[1]

Reproduction

M. diastema is oviparous.^[2]

Subspecies

There are seven subspecies which are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.^[3]

• Micrurus diastema affinis (Jan, 1858)
• Micrurus diastema aglaeope (Cope, 1860)
• Micrurus diastema alienus (F. Werner, 1903)
• Micrurus diastema apiatus (Jan, 1858)
• Micrurus diastema diastema (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)
• Micrurus diastema macdougalli Roze, 1967
• Micrurus diastema sapperi (F. Werner, 1903)

Etymology

The subspecific name, macdougalli, is in honor of naturalist Thomas Baillie MacDougall (1896–1973).^[4]

The subspecific name, sapperi, is in honor of German explorer Karl Theodor Sapper.^[4]