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.
| Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Micrurus |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | M. n. babaspul
|
| Trinomial name | |
| Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul Roze, 1967
| |
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.