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our terrestrial elapid genera are from the Philippines, two of which are cobras and two others from what has been loosely referred to as “coral snakes” Of these four, is endemic to the Philippines and of its three currently recognized species, one is the subject of this article:

was originally described as Elaps calligaster by Arend Friedrich August Wiegmann in 1835 from collections made by F.J.F. Meyen and was transferred to the genus

by Adolf B. Meyer in 1869. Edward Taylor in 1922 said, “The type locality is probably Manila.”

The accepted name for snakes from the genus is “barred (or annulated) coral snakes” but I find this name ambiguous as the vast majority of corals worldwide have annuli or bars as part of their dorsal patterning. My own version would be “black coral snakes” as no other coral snake genus has species that are predominantly black. Using this name thus points automatically to Hemibungarus, though I must admit that the common name I prefer using will get little or no attention from the herpetological scene as a whole.

The Tagalog name is usually

but this name is also applied to the native subspecies. Years ago, I was informed that in Batangas, another epithet used for these snakes is an obvious reference to the rings. Edward Taylor (1922) added

but noted that it was also “synonymous with and a name applied to and deadly; Casto de Elera says that it is

De Elera was a former professor of Jose Rizal, and whose zoological collections are presently housed at the UST Museum of Arts and Sciences.

Naturally, common names may be confusing as different provinces and regions may have different names for one single snake species. Latin names allow us to speak the same language.

are small snakes that average a total length of about half a meter. The body is slender and cylindrical in cross-section, with heads that are barely distinct from the neck. The snout is obtusely squarish and the eyes are small. The tail is short and terminates in a mucronate spine that the snake uses when grabbed.

The scales are non-overlapping and smooth. The dorsal color is overlaid with shiny iridescence, black with thin white rings that usually only appear as edgings of black scales instead of entirely white-colored scales. However, closer examination reveals that the white rings are really the margins of a broad, inversely triangular black banding that extends to the ventrals. In good light though (and if one’s eyes are sharp enough), one may notice that these black bands are darker than the black ground color.

therefore, are more accurately defined as black snakes with black bands. In some specimens, the ground coloration is tinged with brown while the scales edged with white are jet-black.

The head is black with the eyes flanked by a pair of short, vertical white stripes and there are a couple of diagonal white stripes running from the neck to the upper jaws but not meeting at the head. In some individuals, the white coloring is obscured by melanin.

The snout is orange to orangered. The venter is orangish-red with alternating black bands while the tail is orange-red with black rings. Juveniles are much more colorful and fit the coral snake bill better, being red or bright orange with black bands thinly edged with white. However, melanin pigments eventually take over upon maturity, resulting in black snakes banded with black.

Coral snakes have gained notoriety for being almost exclusively ophiophagous, with small species from Asia said to prey on typhlophid blind snakes and worm snakes

My observations from captive snakes during my college years elucidated a clear disinterest in blind snakes although particularly the common

are taken. This makes sense: blind snakes are nocturnal while are diurnal and it is highly unlikely for the day-active

to encounter nocturnal typhlophids when they are out foraging for food.

Apart from fossorial skinks from the genus especially the small

might be also taken; both occur sympatrically with H. calligaster. Cannibalism, to the best of my knowledge, has not yet been reported for this species.

If truth be told, much about H. calligaster’s natural history is unknown. No one knows their population densities, reproductive dynamics (breeding period and gestation), and what the juveniles eat. The snakes might really be numerous in their native habitats, but being secretive snakes, they are rarely seen and encounters are often very fleeting.

These coral snakes are denizens of forested areas – both primary and secondary – from sea level to ca. 600 meters above sea level (pers. obs.), preferring areas with layers of humus and dense herbaceous vegetation. Some individuals blunder around human settlements in rural areas.

The snake is found throughout the island of Luzon. A closely related species, has been recorded from Aurora on the east coast and the island of Polillo, although I have found this species overlapping in range in Laguna. It is not yet known at this point if hybridization events between the two species occur. rocks and bark to serve as hiding places and a water bowl filled with fresh water that was changed every two days.

Half of the enclosure was kept moist while the other end was maintained at the dry side. Disturbance was kept to a minimum and cage maintenance was unobtrusive and very quickly done.

All the snakes observed began coming out of their hiding spots at roughly 8AM and the active periods lasted until noon after which the snakes retired again, only for them to come out at about 4PM and burrow again before the sun sets completely. None were found to wander at night.

Active snakes during the day likely explains the killed snakes I sometimes see on mountain trails; these poor serpents would be exponentially less likely hacked to death by fearful humans had they foraged at night instead of during the day. My own experiences with these snakes in their natural habitat also point to these being active during the day.

For many people, there is indisputable correlation between a snake’s capability to produce venom and aggression. However, the risks of getting bitten by a ratsnake, for example, is exponentially higher than being chomped by a coral snake.

I have involved myself in a few discussions regarding these snakes’ supposed risk to humans in social media, and this is spurred by suppositions that like all venomous snakes, these coral snakes must also be dangerous. From here, it must be acknowledged that the venom may indeed be dangerously potent, although no one really knows for sure; the bandy-bandy

an Australian coral snake with alternating white and black bands, has weak venom that consequently is not regarded as dangerous, and any generalization about snake venom would be downright foolish.

Nevertheless, one must keep in mind that the snake will have to bite first before the likelihood of envenomation presents itself.

While the chances of getting bit may be negligible, the fact remains that all animals, even within the same species, demonstrate individual variations when it comes to temperament. While most may show no inclination to bite, there will always be that individual that sticks out from the rest. Besides, these are still venomous snakes that demand a great deal of respect.

I illustrated above the very minuscule chances of these animals being of medical significance to people, but who wants to prove me wrong by actually putting themselves in harm’s way? Even seasoned herpetologists and herpetoculturists have been tagged by snakes they thought would never have a bad day.

So, my full set of instructions for handling for novices is this: Don’t. If you see one along a trail, leave it be. Take only photos if you can, but if the opportunity won’t present itself, then be gratified seeing one of this country’s most beautiful and enigmatic snakes.