Reptile
Doctor Snake (Red Snake)
Erythrolamprus ocellatus
The Doctor Snake, also called the Red Snake, is a striking colubrid endemic to Tobago. It is the island's most distinctive snake species, with a vivid red and black pattern that has led to misidentification as a coral snake, though Tobago has no true coral snakes. The Doctor Snake is non-venomous and fully protected under Trinidadian law.
Description
Erythrolamprus ocellatus reaches approximately 70 to 90 cm. Its bright red and black colouration is visually similar to true coral snakes, but its pattern lacks the white or yellow banding that characterises Micrurus species. The mimicry argument is complicated on Tobago because no true coral snakes exist there, meaning the pattern cannot have been shaped by local selection pressure from coral snake models. The vivid colouration may instead be aposematic (warning colouration) in its own right, or may be maintained by gene flow from mainland populations where coral snakes do occur.
Ecology
The Doctor Snake is endemic to Tobago and is not found on Trinidad. It feeds on lizards and small prey in forest habitats and is most active at night. Despite being completely harmless to humans, its red colouration leads to frequent persecution. It is fully protected under the Conservation of Wildlife Act.
Threats
- Persecution due to coral-snake-like colouration
- Habitat loss in Tobago
- Small island population; inherently vulnerable to stochastic events