Melanistic Texas Coralsnake (Micrurus tener)

This Texas Coralsnake (Micrurus tener) is a melanistic individual. Melanistic individuals exist on a continuum in the snakes that exhibit it. Some melanistic individuals have very few rings and are mostly black - more melanistic. In fact, the rings are not even complete on the ventral surface; there is a solid black stripe down the center of the ventrum of this snake.