Micrurus diastema

Micrurus diastema, commonly known as the variable coral snake, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to southeastern Mexico and northern Central America. There are seven recognized subspecies.

Distribution and habitat
M. diastema occurs in tropical wet, moist, and dry forest from near sea level to 1,250 m in Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras.

Reproduction
M. diastema is oviparous.

Subspecies
There are seven subspecies which are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.
 * Micrurus diastema affinis (Jan, 1858)
 * Micrurus diastema aglaeope (Cope, 1860)
 * Micrurus diastema alienus (F. Werner, 1903)
 * Micrurus diastema apiatus (Jan, 1858)
 * Micrurus diastema diastema (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854)
 * Micrurus diastema macdougalli Roze, 1967
 * Micrurus diastema sapperi (F. Werner, 1903)

Etymology
The subspecific name, macdougalli, is in honor of naturalist Thomas Baillie MacDougall (1896–1973).

The subspecific name, sapperi, is in honor of German explorer Karl Theodor Sapper.