Coral Snake - Mimicry

Mimicry

New World coral snakes serve as models for their Batesian mimics, False coral snakes, snake species whose venom is less toxic, as well as for many nonvenomous snake species that bear superficial resemblances to them. The role of coral snakes as models for Batesian mimics is supported by research showing that coral snake color patterns deter predators from attacking snake-shaped prey, and that in the absence of coral snakes, species hypothesized to mimic them are indeed attacked more frequently. Species that appear similar to coral snakes include:

• Cemophora coccinea
• Chionactis palarostris
• Erythrolamprus aesculapii
• Erythrolamprus bizona
• Erythrolamprus ocellatus, Tobago false coral
• Lampropeltis pyromelana
• Lampropeltis triangulum, milk snake, subspecies:
  • Lampropeltis triangulum amaura
  • Lampropeltis triangulum annulata
  • Lampropeltis triangulum elapsoides
  • Lampropeltis triangulum gentilis
  • Lampropeltis triangulum multistrata
• Lampropeltis zonata
• Oxyrhopus petola
• Rhinocheilus lecontei tessellatus