When I started with my studies on Indian snakes, I was really surprised when I read that India has five species of coral snake. I used to believe these highly beautiful snakes were only found in American countries.

I can find a few in my area, but I have to be lucky enough to get one, and never got a chance to rescue any. Whenever I go herping, I always tell my fellow companions that for a particular period of time they have to search only for coral snakes.

The striped coral snake is very rare to find as compared to other venomous snakes, and very shy by nature. I have never seen an aggressive coral, and to be frank I still don't know how coral snakes attack because I haven’t seen any of them attacking.

That's why, despite being venomous, coral snakes are not included in the “Indian Big Four” as they are not highly harmful as compared to vipers and cobras.

The striped coral snake, Calliophis nigrescens, is thin, very long, and has a cylindrical body with short tail. The body is blackish-blue, bluish-purple, or reddish-brown. There are 3-5 stripes on their body, but they are extremely faint in blue and black individuals.

The head is black with a light streak behind the eyes. The underside is red and the scales under tail are partly white.



Striped coral snakes are found mainly under dried leaves. They curl up their tail as a threat display when they are disturbed. They feed mainly on other snakes and viviparous by nature. These snakes are endemic to certain parts of western hilly areas of India.

I have encountered this snake only twice on my herpings. When I found the striped coral snake ,it was really unbelievable and I forced my companions to pinch me so I could believe I'd really found this beautiful creature.

Photos: Riyaz Khoja