The Argentinian coral snake (Micrurus pyrrhocryptus) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to central South America, particularly the Dry Chaco region.
Description Large for the genus Micrurus, an adult of Micrurus pyrrhocryptus usually has a total length (tail included) of . The maximum recorded total length is .
Like many other New World coral snakes, the color pattern consists of red, white, and black rings, with the black rings arranged in triads. The central ring of each black triad is 17–35 dorsal scales wide, and is usually wider than the outer black rings of the triad. There are 5–9 triads on the body. The red rings are 13–60 dorsal scales wide, the width varying inversely with the number of triads. The white rings are three dorsal scales wide, and these dorsal scales have black tips.
There does not appear to be sexual dimorphism in scalation in this species, which is unusual for its genus. Males have 214–238 ventrals and 25–30 subcaudals, and females have 216–238 ventrals and 23–29 subcaudals.
Geographic distribution Micrurus pyrrhocryptus is found in northern Argentina, southeastern Bolivia, extreme southwestern Brazil, and western Paraguay.
Habitat Micrurus pyrrhocryptus occurs in a variety of semiarid habitats including forest, savanna, shrubland, and grassland, at elevations of .
Behavior Micrurus pyrrhocryptus is terrestrial.
Diet Micrurus pyrrhocryptus preys on amphisbaenians and snakes, including its own species.
Reproduction Micrurus pyrrhocryptus is oviparous.
Venom Micrurus pyrrhocryptus possesses a powerful venom. The estimated lethal dose for an adult human is 8–10 mg (dry weight). When specimens were "milked" of their venom, the average venom yield was 8 mg. However, the maximum venom yield was 80 mg, which is eight to ten times the estimated lethal dose. xii + 328 pp., 38 maps, 63 color photographs, 49 color pattern drawings. (Micrurus pyrrhocryptus, pp. 211–212 + Map 34 + Pattern 42).
References
Further reading
(Elaps simonsii, new species, pp. 338–339). 870 pp., 1,500 plates. (in two volumes). (Micrurus pyrrhocryptus, p. 225). (Elaps pyrrhocryptus, new species, p. 347). 189 pp. (Micrurus frontalis pyrrhocryptus, p. 115 + color photograph on p. 187). xxxix + 775 pp. (Micrurus pyrrhocryptus, pp. 27–34, Figures 10–12).