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Glite Dictionary
western coral snake

western coral snake

8.1
A snake with venom and red, yellow, black bands that lives in southwest US and Central America
  • noun
  • /ˈwɛstərn ˈkɔrəl sneɪk/
  • US
translation icon : serpiente de coral del oeste
  • The western coral snake has brightly colored bands that warn predators of its venom.

Examples

  • If bitten by a western coral snake, seek medical attention immediately due to its potent neurotoxin.

  • Researchers studied the habitat of the western coral snake in the deserts of Arizona.

  • The western coral snake is highly venomous.

  • Many people fear the western coral snake due to its venom.

  • If bitten by a western coral snake, seek medical attention immediately due to its potent neurotoxin.

  • The western coral snake has brightly colored bands that warn predators of its venom.

  • Researchers studied the habitat of the western coral snake in the deserts of Arizona.

Synonyms

Micruroides euryxanthus
vswestern coral snake
  • Specialized
9.9

A small venomous coral snake from Central America to southwestern United States with bright red, black, and yellow bands

is the common name used instead of the scientific name

Surface Forms

western coral snake singular
western coral snakes plural

Morphology

western + coral + snake

The phrase is fully compositional: 'western' (from the west) + 'coral' (relating to coral or coral-colour) + 'snake' (a reptile) yields the straightforward meaning of a coral-related snake found in western areas. A B1 learner who knows the three constituents would readily infer this is a kind of snake associated with 'coral' and located in the west, even if they did not know specific biological details like venomosity.

Etymology

The noun western coral snake gets its name from its bright red bands that look like coral, and from western because it lives in the western part of North America. So, the name refers to a venomous snake with red, yellow, and black bands that lives in the 'west'.