The Black Coral Snake is from the Kingdom-Animalia, Phylum-Chordata, Class- Reptilia, Order- Squatmata, Family- Elapidae, Genus – Callophis, and Species – Nigrescens. The average size of the black corral snake is around 3½ feet in length with a tail of 4 – 5 inches in length. The snake is black, purpleish, white, and red with bands all the way down the body.

 

The have very small venomous fangs and like to attach to their prey. Black corral snakes eat mostly eat small rats eggs and small rodents. they are mostly carnivores. They are small in size and compete for food with animals like monkeys, birds, and tigers. Other snakes and large frogs the bright colors of the snake are predators that will eat them.

 

Most corral snakes live in the Western Gnats of India. They live in the mountains under branches trees and bushes. This area of the Western Gnats are one of the world hottest diversity spots (it has 5,000 species of flowering plants, 139 mammals, 500 bird species and75 amphibian species. I could not find information on the population. The black coral snakes are only found in a certain region of India so they have a limited environment.

 

One interesting fact about this snake is they have very small fangs but are very venomous and can kill lots of small things. Another surprising fact is that they are completely carnivores. I learned a lot of information even though it was very hard to find because it is such a small species.

 

Author: Alissa C

Published: 03/2010

 

Sources: "Reptile Data Base." J. Craig Venter Institute. Web. 12 Feb 2010. http://www.jcvi.org/reptiles/species.php?genus=Calliophis&species=nigrescens "Black Coral Snake." Google Images. Web. 12 Feb 2010. http://images.google.com/images?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS3 06&tbs=isch%3A1&sa=1&q=Calliophis+negriscens&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&start=0&social=false "Callophis Nigrescens." Wikipedia. Web. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calliophis_nigrescens Photo Credit: