Micrurus steindachneri (Werner, 1901)

Camper, Jeffrey D., Torres-Carvajal, Omar, Ron, Santiago R., Nilsson, Jonas, Arteaga, Alejandro, Knowles, Travis W. & Arbogast, Brian S., 2021, Amphibians and reptiles of Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary, Napo Province, Ecuador, Check List 17 (3), pp. 729-751 : 747

Micrurus steindachneri (Werner, 1901)

Figure 4I, J

Material examined. ECUADOR • 1 adult; Napo Prov- ince, WWS; 20 Dec. 2008; photograph . • 1 adult; Napo Province, WWS; 10 Feb. 2009; photograph .

Identification. These dark snakes have yellow bands that are only ½ –1 scale long, the red bands are often black dorsally with the red pigment confined to the sides of the body, and the black rings number 28–42. The venter has long, black bands 3 or 4 ventrals, yellow bands covering 2 or 3 ventrals, and reddish-brown bands 1 ventral long. Males have 200–208 ventrals, and females have 227–231 ventrals. Subcaudals are 42–48 in males and 35–38 in females.

Remarks. We have observed at least four individuals of this species, with three appearing melanistic as in Fig- ure 4I. A photograph of a road killed specimen by TWK appears to be a specimen with normal coloration. There- fore, a color pattern polymorphism is present in this population.