Micrurus margaritiferus, also known commonly as the speckled coral snake and the coral salpicada in Peruvian Spanish, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to Peru. www.reptile-database.org.
Description Micrurus margaritiferus is medium-sized for its genus. The maximum reported total length (tail included) is that of a female which measured . xii + 328 pp., 38 maps, 63 color photographs, 49 color pattern drawings. (Micrurus margaritiferus, pp. 193–194 + Map 25 + Pattern 31).
The color pattern consists of many narrow black rings (68–141), separated by very narrow white rings. Dorsally, the white rings are interrupted, forming transverse series of white dots. Ventrally, the white rings are complete.
Geographic distribution Micrurus margaritiferus is found in northeastern Peru, on the Amazonian slopes of the Andes, in the Department of Amazonas.
Habitat The preferred natural habitat of Micrurus margaritiferus is forest, at elevations of .
Behavior Micrurus margaritiferus is terrestrial.
Reproduction Micrurus margeritiferus is oviparous.
Etymology The specific name, margaritiferus, means "carrier of pearls" is a reference to the white dots of the interrupted rings, which resemble strings of pearls.
References
Further reading
iv + 430 pp., 568 figures, 109 distribution maps, 31 tables.
(Micrurus margaritiferus, new species, pp. 35–36, Figure 12).