Are there coral snakes in New Mexico?
Short answer
Yes1 species
Texas coral snake: Only as rare records. GBIF holds 1 open record of the Texas coral snake from New Mexico, but there is no known population.
Sonoran coral snake: Yes. The Sonoran coral snake lives in New Mexico. Open records come from 2 counties.
Where in New Mexico
- None recorded
- 1 species
- 2
- 3 to 4
- 5 or more
Coral snakes across the US
- Lives here
- Rare records
- Gone
- Not here
How to recognize one
Sonoran coral snake Micruroides euryxanthus
- Wide red and black rings separated by narrow white or pale yellow rings
- Black head
- Pencil-thin body
Medically significant. Very small mouth and few recorded bites, none known to be fatal. Treat any bite as an emergency.
Often mistaken for coral snakes
- Coral Snake vs King Snake Scarlet kingsnake: harmless
- Coral Snake vs Milk Snake Milk snake: harmless, lives in New Mexico
- Coral Snake vs Scarlet Snake Scarlet snake: harmless
Questions
Are there coral snakes in New Mexico?
Yes. 1 species live in New Mexico: Sonoran coral snake.
What do coral snakes look like?
Red, yellow and black rings; red rings touch yellow ones. Black snout followed by a wide yellow band. Rings go all the way around the body.