Trinidad Ribbon Coral Snake

Micrurus diutius, also known commonly as the Trinidad ribbon coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Trinidad and northern South America.

Local common names: Common names for Micrurus diutius include coral acintada trinitaria in South American Spanish and cobra coral de faixas de Trinidad in Brazilian Portuguese.

 Large for its genus, Micrurus diutius may attain a total length (tail included) of or more. The color pattern consists of rings of red, white, and black, with the black rings in triads.

Geographic distribution: Micrurus diutius is found in Brazil, Guyana, Trinidad, and Venezuela. The type locality is "Tunapuna, Trinidad".

Habitat: The preferred natural habitat of Micrurus diutius is humid forest, but it has also been found in savanna and agricultural areas.

Diet: Micrurus diutius preys upon a variety of poikilotherms, including fishes such as Synbranchus marmoratus; amphisbaenians such as Leposternon polystegum; lizards of the genus Bachia; snakes such as Atractus trilineatus, snakes of the genus Liophis, other coral snakes such as Micrurus circinalis, and even its own species.

Reproduction: Micrurus diutius is oviparous.

Etymology: The specific name, diutius, is Latin for "too long".