Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

Volume 2 Article 16

1947 Notes on the Behavior of a Coral Snake in Captivity Cyril E. Abbott Harding College

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Recommended Citation Abbott, Cyril E. (1947) "Notes on the Behavior of a Coral Snake in Captivity," Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science: Vol. 2 , Article 16. Available at: http://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/vol2/iss1/16

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NOTES ON THE BEHAVIOR OF A CORAL SNAKE IN CAPTIVITY C. E. Abbott, Harding College, Searoy During the month of December, 1942, Ireceived from Louisiana, a living male specimen of Micrurus fulvius. Although Iwas en- tirely unfamiliar with the species, efforts were made to apply what knowledge Ihad of snakes as a group to maintaining It alive In captivity. It was kept In a large battery Jar with a screen top. A layer of sand covered the bottom of the Jar, and a small preparation dish therein was kept filled with water. Efforts to Induce the reptile to feed were fruitless. Small frogs, meal worms (Tenebrio moIitor) and milk were all Ignored. Dltmars states that ItIs almost Impossible to Induce Micrurus to feed In captivity, adding that In natural surroundings the snake lives largely upon lizards. But Ihad no lizards, and the snake died, after three months, no doubt because It had eaten nothing. Dltmars also states that the coral snake In captivity has a tendency to Immerse Itself In water. This my specimen did upon numerous occasions. The laboratory, though much warmer than the air outside of the building, was far from tropical. The cup of water In which the snake was In the habit of colling was five to seven degrees (centigrade) warmer than the surrounding air. It Is possible that the snake, being a subtropical animal, entered the water for warmth, although this may not be a complete explanation of this behavior. The animal had a habit of elevating Its body a third of Its length to sway from side to side like a cobra. It also "leaned" against the wall of the Jar when so elevated, sometimes remaining Inthat position for an hour. Since the animal had to maintain this position chiefly by muscular tension, Itmust be capable of remarkably Intense and enduring muscular tonus. Although Ihandled the specimen many times (with gloves, of course), It never offered to bite, excepting on one or two occas- ions, as the result of being Inadvertently pinched. The coloration of the species Is said to vary considerably, Inspite of a fundamental pattern. This specimen was nearly black, since the scales In the "orange" areas were orange only at the margins. The belly was distinctly coral-colored. The snake was 'etherized once, In order that Itmight be photographed. Itdid not seem to suffer any permanent Inconven- ience from the treatment. But Itevidently noticed the "smells" we generated In the laboratory, for every time we did so the snake burled Its head In the sand or Immersed It In the cup of water. The same behavior was sometimes observed when there was an unusual amount of noise In the room. Snakes are said to be hard of hearing, but this one may have felt vibration through the table on which the cage was kept. There can be no doubt that snakes resting on the ground perceive footfalls through vibration.

49 Published by Arkansas Academy of Science, 1947 49 Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science, Vol. 2 [1947], Art. 16

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