Young—Broods average 12 but vary from four to 21.
Distribution—Texas records of this snake are widely scattered. Counties in which it is know include: Andrews, Armstrong, Baylor, Brewster, Briscoe, Callahan, Carson, Castro, Childress, Crane, Crosby, Dallam, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Ector, El Paso, Garza, Gray, Hansford, Hartley, Haskell, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, Kent, Lamb, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Lynn, Midland, Moore, Ochiltree, Oldham, Pecos, Potter, Presidio, Randall, Reeves, Roberts, Sherman, Taylor, Tom Green, Ward, Wheeler, Wilbarger, Winkler, and Yoakum.
When aroused, this snake becomes a vicious adversary but, like most snakes, is satisfied to go its way if given half a chance.
THE ELAPID SNAKES
The single representative of this family (Elapidae) in Texas is small, slender, and brightly colored with rings of red, yellow and black. The head is small and rounded and eye pupils are circular. Its venom-conducting fangs, in the front of the upper jaw, are small and permanently erect; consequently, some chewing is required before the snake can inject its poison with certainty. As if to make up for its poor biting equipment, the coral snake possesses a venom of high toxicity, a venom much more potent than that of the pit vipers which are so well adapted for injecting their poison quickly and deeply. Because this poison produces scarcely any severe local symptoms, the danger from a bite may be overlooked and treatment delayed. Although pain is present, the usual dramatic symptoms of snake poisoning, such as extensive discoloration and great swelling at the site of bite, are scarcely noticeable. This absence of conclusive symptoms may lead the victim to believe he has been bitten by a harmless snake. In all coral snake bites, prompt action is necessary.
TEXAS CORAL SNAKE
Micrurus fulvius tenere
Left, coral snake; right, Mexican milk snake
Description—Generally less than two and a half feet long, this is our most colorful venomous snake and, at the same time, the least dangerous in appearance. Its small, narrow head, slender body and brightly colored pattern can be dangerously misleading. Children, especially, are inclined to pick it up because they are attracted by its colors and convinced that such beauty must be harmless. The pattern consists of red, yellow and black rings which encircle the body in the following order: a broad black ring, a much narrower yellow ring, a broad red ring, a narrow yellow ring, a broad black ring, and so on. Note that the red and yellow rings on the body touch one another. The snout is black and a broad yellow ring crosses the back of the head.