Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul
Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Elapidae |
Genus: | Micrurus |
Species: | |
Subspecies: | M. n. babaspul
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Trinomial name | |
Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul Roze, 1967
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Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul, or the babaspul (Creole for "barber's pole"), is a subspecies of Micrurus nigrocinctus, commonly known as the Central American coral snake. M. n. babaspul is a venomous elapid from Big Corn Island (Isla Grande del Maíz), Nicaragua. According to O'Shea (2008) this is an endangered subspecies, and the subspecies may even be extinct.
Description
[edit]M. n. babaspul is a tricoloured monadal coral snake. Its color pattern consists of rings in the order red/yellow/black/yellow/red. Being a monadal coral snake, it only has one black ring between each pair of red rings. It has a round small head with a long slender body. Adults may attain a total length (including tail) of 1.5–2 ft (46–61 cm).
Geographic Range
[edit]The babaspul is endemic to Big Corn Island, Nicaragua.
Habitat
[edit]M. n. babaspul inhabits tropical moist forests.
Diet
[edit]The babaspul will actively hunt small lizards and small snakes, and if available will take some rodents small enough for it to consume.
Reproduction
[edit]There is not much known about the reproduction of the babaspul, but it is believed to be an oviparous species.
Further reading
[edit]- Roze J. 1967. "A check list of the New World venomous coral snakes (Elapidae), with descriptions of new forms". American Museum Novitates (2287): 1-60. (Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul, new subspecies).
- O'Shea, Mark (2008). Venomous Snakes of the World. New Holland Publishers Ltd. p. 52. ISBN 978-1847730862.
External links
[edit]- "ITIS Standard Report Page: Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul ". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 24 March 2012.