Calliophis bivirgatus
Template:Short description Template:Speciesbox
Calliophis bivirgatus is a species of snake in the family Elapidae known commonly as the blue coral snake[1] or blue Malayan coral snake.[2][3] It is native to Southeast Asia.[1]
Geographic range and distribution
This terrestrial snake occurs in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand,[1] and Burma.[3] It lives at Script error: No such module "convert". in elevation.[1]
There are three subspecies:[3]
- C. b. bivirgatus – Indonesia
- C. b. flaviceps – Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Burma
- C. b. tetrataenia – Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei
Description
This species was assigned to the new world coral snake genus Maticora until phylogenetic studies revealed this species to be nested within the tropical coral snake species clade Calliophis and sister species to Calliophis intestinalis, the banded Malaysian coral snake.[4]
This is a medium-sized coral snake with a slender body. The adult can reach Script error: No such module "convert". long. It has a red head, tail and belly. The back is dark blue or black in colour, and it usually has a large blue[2] or white stripe on each flank.[5]
The snake, especially when juvenile, is often confused with the pink-headed reed snake (Calamaria schlegeli) as they share similar habitat and appearance. But the latter is much smaller, reaching a maximum length of Script error: No such module "convert".. The reed snake is nonvenomous, while the coral snake is potentially lethal.[2][3] They also are very similar to another venomous snake, the red-headed krait (Bungarus flaviceps).
Biology
This uncommon snake is considered semi-fossorial and is found in the leaf litter of primary and secondary forests.[1] It preys on other snakes. When threatened it usually flees, but it may remain in place with its red tail erect as a defensive message.[2]
Venom
Blue coral snake venom has only occasionally caused human deaths.[6] This species has unusually long venom glands, extending to 25% of the length of the body.[6] The venom contains a neurotoxin, Calliotoxin, that causes near instantaneous paralysis by delaying inactivation of the prey's sodium channels.[7] This effect has not been observed in humans. The venom also contains phosphodiesterases, which promote the release of adenosine, causing in turn hypotension, inflammation, and neurotransmitter blockade in prey items and other bite victims.[6] This ability is especially important as their prey consists mostly of other venomous snakes.
In humans, local effects of a bite self-resolve without complication and systemic effects are rare. [8]
There is hope that the venom may eventually prove useful in the management of chronic pain in humans.[9]
See also
References
<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />
- ↑ a b c d e Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
- ↑ a b c d Calliophis bivirgatus. Ecologyasia. 2016.
- ↑ a b c d Calliophis bivirgata. Reptile Database.
- ↑ J. B. Slowinski, J. Boundy and R. Lawson. 2001. The phylogenetic relationships of Asian coral snakes (Elapidae: Calliophis and Maticora) based on morphological and molecular characters. Herpetologica 57(2) 233-245
- ↑ Coral snakes: colors, bites, farts, and facts. Livescience. 16 December 2014.
- ↑ a b c Tan, C. H., et al. (2015). Unveiling the elusive and exotic: Venomics of the Malayan blue coral snake (Calliophis bivirgata flaviceps). Journal of Proteomics 132, 1.
- ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
Further reading
- Boie F. 1827. "Bemerkungen über Merrem's Versuchs eines Systems der Amphibien. 1te Lieferung: Ophidier ". Isis von Oken 20: 508-566. (Elaps bivirgatus, p. 556).
- Boulenger GA. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ), ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and FRancis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Doliophis bivirgatus, pp. 400–401).
- Das I. 2006. A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Borneo. Sanibel Island, Florida: Ralph Curtis Books. 144 pp. Template:ISBN. (Calliophis bivirgata [sic], p. 61).
- Oshea, Mark; Halliday, Tim; Metcalf, Jonathan (editor). 2002. Reptiles and Amphibians: Smithsonian Handbooks. London: DK (Dorling Kinderley). 256 pp. Template:ISBN.