Field guide
Blood-bellied coral snake
බඩරතු දෙපත් කළුවා · badarathu depath kaluwa
Calliophis haematoetron
Venomous Endemic
A bite from this species is a medical emergency.
A rare wet-zone endemic coral snake with a vivid red belly.
How to identify
1Dark body with a striking blood-red underside
2Small burrowing elapid
3Known only from the south-western wet zone
If bitten
Venomous but bites are extremely rare. Keep the victim calm and still, immobilise the limb and seek hospital care as a precaution. Do NOT cut, suck, tourniquet or ice.
Up to 0.3 m
Length
Nocturnal & fossorial
Active
Small burrowing snakes and reptiles
Diet
Where it's found
Wet zone
Rainforest leaf litter and soil in the wet zone.