Field guide
Indian coral snake
දෙපත් කළුවා · depath kaluwa
Calliophis melanurus
Venomous
A bite from this species is a medical emergency.
A small, secretive burrowing elapid with a bright warning tail.
How to identify
1Brownish body with a black-and-red tail underside
2Small fixed front fangs
3Burrows in soil and leaf litter
If bitten
Venomous but bites are very rare. Keep the victim calm and still, immobilise the limb and go to hospital as a precaution. Do NOT cut, suck, tourniquet or ice.
Up to 0.4 m
Length
Nocturnal & fossorial
Active
Other small snakes and burrowing reptiles
Diet
Where it's found
Dry zoneIntermediate zone
Loose soil, leaf litter and gardens in dry and intermediate zones.