Sinomicrurus macclellandi (Reinhardt, 1844)
Coral Snake 麗紋蛇
(Highly venomous)

Back reddish-brown. Widely-spaced thin black cross bars irregularly distributed on back.
Ventrals pale yellow with irregular black, rectangular markings, sometimes alternating with black spots.
Head small and black with a posterior wide, white band and a small white crossline on the rounded snout.
Tail short. Scales smooth.
Extremely venomous, with a potent neurotoxic venom. Has caused a few human fatalities in Thailand.

Hillside species that inhabits forest and sometimes in grassland.
Sometimes seen crossing roads or found in catchwaters during the night.
Often hides in loose soil and leaf litter in forest floor during the day.

Nocturnal. Rather tame, inoffensive and secretive snake.
Usually inactive in captivity but becomes extremely alert in the presence of White-spotted Slug Snake (Pareas margaritophorus).

Ophiophagous, preying on small snakes; sometimes feeds on lizards.

Localized distribution in central New Territories, Lantau Island and Hong Kong Island.
Occurs in central and southern China including Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Ryukyus and North India.