Erythrolamprus


Erythrolamprus is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly known as false coral snakes, native to Central America, and the northern part of South America. They appear to be coral snake mimics.

Species

These species are currently recognized as being valid.
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other than Erythrolamprus.

Mimicry

The brightly colored, ringed patterns of some of the snakes of the genus Erythrolamprus resemble those of sympatric coral snakes of the genus Micrurus, and it has been suggested that this is due to mimicry. Whether this is classical Batesian mimicry, classical Müllerian mimicry, a modified form of Müllerian mimicry, or no mimicry at all, remains to be proven.

Cited references