Sonoran coralsnake (Micruroides euryxanthus)
The Sonoran coralsnake is a venomous elapid snake in the family Elapidae. GBIF holds 364 licensed U.S. records of it; it reaches our listing threshold in 2 states, most of all Arizona (359) and New Mexico (5). Its observation records peak in July.
Is the Sonoran coralsnake poisonous or venomous?
Yes. The Sonoran coralsnake is an elapid (family Elapidae), the family of coral snakes. Its venom acts on nerves, and symptoms can be delayed for hours, so any bite needs a hospital even if it seems minor.
Snakes often mistaken for it
Species commonly confused with coral snakes and recorded in the same states: eastern milksnake (recorded in all 2 of its states), long-nosed snake (recorded in all 2 of its states), Sonoran mountain kingsnake (recorded in all 2 of its states) and central plains milksnake (recorded in 1 of its 2 states).
Which states have the Sonoran coralsnake?
The Sonoran coralsnake's U.S. record is concentrated: Arizona alone holds 99% of licensed records. It is listed in 2 states in all; the next are New Mexico (5).
| # | State | Records | Share of state snakes | Rank in state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arizona | 359 | 1.7% | 19th of 60 |
| 2 | New Mexico | 5 | 0.1% | 50th of 56 |
When is the Sonoran coralsnake seen?
Across the U.S., observation records of the Sonoran coralsnake run mostly May through October, peaking in July with 27% of them. Almost none are from December to February.
How recent are the Sonoran coralsnake records?
The Sonoran coralsnake record leans on older material: only 16% of dated U.S. records come from 2017–2026, and the median record is from 1986. The oldest dated record is from 1905; the busiest year was 2004, with 8 records.
| Decade | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 1 | 0.6% |
| 1910s | 2 | 1.1% |
| 1920s | 2 | 1.1% |
| 1930s | 5 | 2.8% |
| 1940s | 7 | 3.9% |
| 1950s | 15 | 8.3% |
| 1960s | 15 | 8.3% |
| 1970s | 26 | 14.4% |
| 1980s | 30 | 16.7% |
| 1990s | 13 | 7.2% |
| 2000s | 20 | 11.1% |
| 2010s | 22 | 12.2% |
| 2020s | 22 | 12.2% |
Species recorded in the same counties
Of the 13 counties where the Sonoran coralsnake is most recorded, 13 are also top counties for each of the eight snakes in the table below; no other snake shares more.
| Species | Shared counties |
|---|---|
| Glossy snake | 13 |
| Gopher snake | 13 |
| Long-nosed snake | 13 |
| Mohave rattlesnake venomous | 13 |
| Ring-necked snake | 13 |
| Sonoran lyre snake | 13 |
| Southwestern blackhead snake | 13 |
| Western diamondback rattlesnake venomous | 13 |
Related species in the U.S.
Other members of the family Elapidae with profiles here: Texas coral snake and Eastern coral snake.
GBIF records read 2026-09-29. Listed: any license. Counted: CC0/CC BY only. How we count.