Published September 27, 2021. Updated March 27, 2026. Open access. | Purchase book ❯ |
Ornate Coralsnake (Micrurus ornatissimus)
Reptiles of Ecuador | Serpentes | Elapidae | Micrurus ornatissimus
English common name: Ornate Coralsnake.
Spanish common name: Coral ornamentada.
Recognition: ♂♂ 87.9 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail. ♀♀ 104.2 cmMaximum distance from the snout to the tip of the tail..1 In Ecuador, most true coralsnakes can be distinguished from their “false” counterparts by their complete, brightly colored rings that encircle the body (continuing across the belly), small eyes roughly equal in size to the post-ocular scales, and the absence of a loreal scale.1,2 In the Ecuadorian Amazon, Micrurus ornatissimus is one of only two species in the genus with black rings arranged in monads rather than triads (Fig. 1).1 It is easily separated from the other, M. langsdorffi, which features yellow rings with black-tipped scales rather than solid black rings.1,3 The false coralsnake Erythrolamprus guentheri is a BatesianA harmless species imitates the warning coloration of a venomous one. mimic of M. ornatissimus. However, it can be identified by its eyes, which are significantly larger (6.4–6.6 times) than the adjacent preocular scales; in true coralsnakes, the eye and preocular scale are approximately the same size.
Figure 1: Individuals of Micrurus ornatissimus from Ecuador: Limoncocha Biological Reserve, Sucumbíos province (); Campamento Fruta del Norte, Morona Santiago province (); El Chaco, Napo province (); Yarina Lodge, Orellana province ().
Natural history: Micrurus ornatissimus is a rarely encountered terrestrial to semi-fossorial snake. It primarily inhabits pristine rainforests but also ventures into clearings, pastures, plantations, and rural gardens near the forest edge.1,4 Individuals are active both day and night—often seen on soil, in puddles, or among leaf-litter—especially following heavy rains.1,4 These coralsnakes are active foragers that prey on lizards (e.g., Alopoglossus brevifrontalis) and other snakes, including Atractus orcesi, unidentified ground snakes, and even conspecifics (formerly recorded as M. steindachneri preying on M. ornatissimus).1,5,6 Aposematic (warning) coloration serves as the primary defense for this species. While generally calm and inclined to flee when threatened, disturbed individuals may engage in complex, erratic “flash” behaviors: hiding the head beneath body coils, crawling spasmodically forward and backward, and waving the brightly colored tail as a decoy.1,4 Although they may strike if provoked, their typical temperament is docile. The venom is neurotoxic and potentially lethal to humans. However, documented envenomations are extremely rare; the only published record involves a 46-year-old woman who developed mild symptoms, including persistent pain and swelling.1,2 Information on reproduction is limited, but observations from the Ecuadorian provinces of Morona Santiago and Tungurahua indicate a clutch size of approximately nine eggs.1 In one instance, a clutch hatched after a 73-day incubation period, with neonates measuring between 17.6 and 22.6 cm in total length.1
Conservation: Least Concern Believed to be safe from extinction given current circumstances..7–9 Micrurus ornatissimus is categorized as Least Concern due to its extensive distribution, presence within several major protected areas, and presumably stable populations that currently face no imminent widespread extinction threats.7 However, some populations face long-term survival risks primarily from habitat destruction driven by mining, oil extraction, and the expanding agricultural frontier.1 In addition to habitat loss, road mortality (vehicular traffic) and direct human persecution (intentional killing) remain consistent sources of individual mortality across its range.4,10,11
Distribution: Micrurus ornatissimus is native to the western Amazon basin and the adjacent foothills of the Andes in Colombia, Ecuador (Fig. 2), and Perú.
Figure 2: Distribution of Micrurus ornatissimus in Ecuador. See Appendix 1 for a complete list of the presence localities included in the map.
Etymology: The name Micrurus is derived from the Greek mikros (=small) and oura (=tail), referring to the short tail in members of this group.2 The species epithet ornatissimus is derived from the Latin ornatus (=decoration) and the suffix -issimus (=very), referring to the decorated dorsal pattern.2
See it in the wild: Micrurus ornatissimus is generally encountered at a low frequency, typically observed once every few months. However, encounter rates appear higher in specific regions. In the upper Amazonian foothills, the species is considered abundant in the Wild Sumaco Wildlife Sanctuary and near the town of El Chaco. In these areas, individuals are most frequently encountered at sunset along forest trails or roads. In the lowland Amazon, the highest number of recent observations occurs within the Tiputini Biodiversity Station and the Yasuní Scientific Station, where the snakes are typically active at night, particularly following warm, rainy days.
Acknowledgments: This account was published with the support of Secretaría Nacional de Educación Superior Ciencia y Tecnología (programa INEDITA; project: Respuestas a la crisis de biodiversidad: la descripción de especies como herramienta de conservación; No 00110378), Programa de las Naciones Unidas (PNUD), and Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ).
Special thanks to Tim Paine and Remon ter Harmsel for symbolically adopting the Ornate Coralsnake and helping bring the Reptiles of Ecuador book project to life.
Click here to adopt a species.
Author: Alejandro ArteagaaAffiliation: Fundación Khamai, Reserva Arlequín, Ecoruta Paseo del Quinde km 56, Santa Rosa de Mindo, Pichincha 171202, Ecuador.
Photographers: Alejandro Arteaga,aAffiliation: Fundación Khamai, Reserva Arlequín, Ecoruta Paseo del Quinde km 56, Santa Rosa de Mindo, Pichincha 171202, Ecuador. Frank Pichardo,bAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador. and Jose VieirabAffiliation: Tropical Herping (TH), Quito, Ecuador.,cAffiliation: ExSitu, Quito, Ecuador.
How to cite? Arteaga A (2026) Ornate Coralsnake (Micrurus ornatissimus). In: Arteaga A, Bustamante L, Vieira J (Eds) Reptiles of Ecuador: Life in the middle of the world. Available from: www.reptilesofecuador.com. DOI: 10.47051/TABD5404
Literature cited:
- Valencia JH, Garzón-Tello K, Barragán-Paladines ME (2016) Serpientes venenosas del Ecuador: sistemática, taxonomía, historial natural, conservación, envenenamiento y aspectos antropológicos. Fundación Herpetológica Gustavo Orcés, Quito, 653 pp.
- Campbell JA, Lamar WW (2004) The venomous reptiles of the western hemisphere. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 774 pp.
- Roze JA (1996) Coral snakes of the Americas: biology, indentification, and venoms. Krieger Publishing Company, Malabar, 328 pp.
- Field notes, Reptiles of Ecuador book project.
- Photo by Dominik Hofer.
- Lee JL, Hernández-Morales C, McDiarmid RW (2018) First report on the reproductive biology and diet of two coral snake species (Micrurus) from the western Amazon of Perú and Ecuador (Serpentes: Elapidae) using x-radiography. Herpetology Notes 11: 409–412.
- Gagliardi G, Gonzales L, Valencia J (2017) Micrurus ornatissimus. The IUCN Red List of threatened species. Available from: www.iucnredlist.org. DOI: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T44582007A44582012.en
- Reyes-Puig C (2015) Un método integrativo para evaluar el estado de conservación de las especies y su aplicación a los reptiles del Ecuador. MSc thesis, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, 73 pp.
- Carrillo E, Aldás A, Altamirano M, Ayala F, Cisneros-Heredia DF, Endara A, Márquez C, Morales M, Nogales F, Salvador P, Torres ML, Valencia J, Villamarín F, Yánez-Muñoz M, Zárate P (2005) Lista roja de los reptiles del Ecuador. Fundación Novum Millenium, Quito, 46 pp.
- Camper JD, Torres-Carvajal O, Ron SR, Nilsson J, Arteaga A, Knowles TW, Arbogast BS (2021) Amphibians and reptiles of Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary, Napo Province, Ecuador. Check List 17: 729–751.
- Urgilés VL, Sánchez JC, Astudillo PX (2016) Registro de la serpiente coral de Steindachneri Micrurus steindachneri (Squamata: Elapidae) en el Área Ecológica de Conservación Municipal Tinajillas-Río Gualaceño. Avances en Ciencias e Ingeniería 8: 82–85. DOI: 10.18272/aci.v8i14.462
Appendix 1: Locality data used to create the distribution map of Micrurus ornatissimus in Ecuador (Fig. 2). Go to the section on symbols and abbreviations for a list of acronyms used.
| Country | Province | Locality | Source |
| Colombia | Caquetá | Belén de Andaquíes | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Colombia | Putumayo | La Hormiga | Feitosa et al. 2015 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Puerto Asís | Schmidt 1955 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Reserva Natural La Isla Escondida | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Río Putumayo | Schmidt 1955 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Vereda La Unión | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Vereda San José | Campbell & Lamar 2004 |
| Colombia | Putumayo | Vereda Los Ángeles | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Achuentz | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | AECM Tinajillas-Río Gualaceño | Urgilés et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Alto Río Upano | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Amazonas | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Bosque Protector Abanico | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Cabeceras del Río Piuntza | Reynolds 1997 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Campamento Fruta del Norte | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Centro Shuar Kiim | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Chiguaza | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Fruta del Norte | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Guarumales | Photo by Ernesto Arbeláez |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Kirintim, 2 km NNW of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Macas | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Makuma | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Mamayak | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Mashumarentsa | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Méndez | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Paantim | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Parque Nacional Sangay | Brito & Almendariz 2013 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Patuca, 1.5 km SW of | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Plan de Milagro, 1 mile S of | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Sinaí | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Sucúa | Feitosa et al. 2015 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Tumpaim | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Morona Santiago | Uwi | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | AmaZOOnico | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Bosque Protector Colonso Chalupas | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Cascada de San Rafael | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | El Chaco | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Estación de bombeo El Salado | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Finca Gran Duval | Photo by Diego Piñán |
| Ecuador | Napo | Guamaní | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Huasquila Lodge | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Jatun Sacha Biological Station | Feitosa et al. 2015 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Narupa Reserve (higher trails) | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Narupa Reserve (lower trails) | Photo by Francisco Sornoza |
| Ecuador | Napo | Puerto Misahuallí | Feitosa et al. 2015 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Quehueiriono | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Refugio 1 Sumaco | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Reserva Biológica Colonso Chalupas | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Río Azuela | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Río Santa Rosa | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Río Sardinas | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Santa Rosa de Otas | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Sendero al Río Misahuallí | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Suchipakari Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Napo | Tena | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam | Feitosa et al. 2015 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Vía Misahuallí | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Napo | Wild Sumaco Wildlife Sanctuary | Camper et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Napo | Yachana Reserve | Whitworth & Beirne 2011 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Dayuma, 27 km E of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Estación Científica Onkone Gare | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Isla de Añangu | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Loreto | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Río Cotapino | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Río Huataraco | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | San José de Payamino | Photo by Ross Maynard |
| Ecuador | Orellana | San José de Suno | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Shiripuno Lodge | Shiripuno Lodge staff |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Tiputini | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Tiputini Biodiversity Station | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Vía Pompeya Sur–Iro, km 105 | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Wati | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Yarina Lodge | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Orellana | Yasuni Scientific Station | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Abitagua | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Abitagua | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Alto Bobonaza | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Andoas | Feitosa et al. 2015 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Arajuno | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Arutam | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Canelos | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Kallana | MZUTI 5040; examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Kurintza | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Kusutkao, 7.5 km W of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Mera | Roze 1996 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Montalvo | Feitosa et al. 2015 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Pukuan | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Puyo | Photo by Jorge Flores |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Arajuno | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Bobonaza | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Bufeo | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Copataza | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Huiyoyacu | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Pastaza | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Rutuno | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Tigre | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Río Villano | USNM 232435; VertNet |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Sarayacu | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Shell | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Sumak Kawsay In Situ | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Pastaza | Veracruz | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | El Reventador | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | La Bonita | Photo by Diego Piñán |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Lago Agrio | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Limoncocha | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Limoncocha, 2.6 km E of | This work; Fig. 1 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Pozo Diamante | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | San Pablo de Kantesiya | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Sani Lodge | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Sansahuari | Photo by Martin Carrera |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Santa Cecilia | Duellman 1978 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Santa Rosa de Sucumbíos | Feitosa et al. 2015 |
| Ecuador | Sucumbíos | Yamanunca | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Tungurahua | Cascada Machay | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Tungurahua | Finca Palmonte | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Tungurahua | Río Zuñac, trail to reserve | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Tungurahua | San Francisco de Mapoto | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Tungurahua | Ulba | Valencia et al. 2021 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Alto Machinaza | Almendariz et al. 2014 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | La Canela, 8 km E of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Los Encuentros | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Maycu Reserve | Reptiles of Ecuador book database |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Namacuntza | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Nambija | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Permatree | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Shaime | Campbell & Lamar 2004 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Tundayme, 10 km E of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Valle del Quimi | Betancourt et al. 2018 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Yantzaza, 14 km NE of | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Yantzaza, vía a Pindal | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Ecuador | Zamora Chinchipe | Zumba | Valencia et al. 2016 |
| Perú | Amazonas | Cordillera del Cóndor i Peru | Campbell & Lamar 2004 |
| Perú | Cajamarca | Namballe, 7 km S of | iNaturalist; photo examined |
| Perú | Cajamarca | Perico | Schmidt 1936 |
| Perú | Loreto | Intuto, 60 km upstream from | Campbell & Lamar 2004 |
| Perú | Loreto | Nuevo Andoas | Campbell & Lamar 2004 |
| Perú | Loreto | Nuevo Andoas, 120 km downstream from | Campbell & Lamar 2004 |