The Coral Snake Micrurus nigrocinctus in Honduras (Serpentes: Elapidae)

Abstract

Analysis of seven characters of scutellation and coloration of matterial of Micrurus nigrocinctus from Honduras indicates thai variation in these characters is more complex than has formerly been recognized. The characters studied exhibit discordant patterns of variation but populations of M. nigrocinctus from northern Honduras are generally distinct from those from southern Honduras in a number of features. Populations from intermediate areas exhibit discordant admixtures of these characters. We suggest that application of names to infraspecific taxa in Honduras tends to obfuscate rather than illuminate variational trends in this coral snake.