coral snake

noun

1. any of numerous venomous elapid snakes, found chiefly in the New World tropics, as Micrurus fulvius eastern coral snake, of the southeastern U.S., often brilliantly marked with bands of red, yellow, and black.
2. any of several other snakes, as of the genus Calliophis, of Asia, having red markings.

coral snake

noun

1. any venomous elapid snake of the genus Micrurus and related genera, of tropical and subtropical America, marked with red, black, yellow, and white transverse bands
2. any of various other brightly coloured elapid snakes of Africa and SE Asia

Word History and Origins

Origin of coral snake¹

First recorded in 1750–50

Example Sentences

Two red-tailed coral snakes have been observed competing over a caecilian in the first documented wild case of kleptoparasitism within the family Elapidae.

From Science Daily

Lying on her back, she stares straight past Adam’s adjacent head and into the viewer’s eyes, wholly indifferent to the deadly red-and-black striped coral snake slithering nearby.

From Los Angeles Times

However, the company sells dozens of injectable items, including I.V. antibiotics, anti-seizure drugs used in brain surgery and even an antidote to coral snake venom.

From New York Times

No one noticed the poisonous coral snake—until a camarada’s bare foot almost stepped on it.

From Literature

The world hosts hundreds of wildly different venomous snake species, from brightly banded coral snakes to camouflaged cottonmouths.

From Scientific American