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Definition of tschudi false coral snake
tschudi false coral snake
Plural:Tschudi false coral snakes
tschudi false coral snake Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
12
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged colubrid snake (Oxyrhopus melanogenys) native to northern South America, known for its superficial resemblance to highly venomous true coral snakes.
Example
"During our night hike in the Peruvian Amazon, the guide pointed out a Tschudi false coral snake navigating the damp leaf litter."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although often confused with true coral snakes due to its similar aposematic coloration (Batesian mimicry), this species is rear-fanged and generally not considered dangerous to humans.
Word Origin & Etymology
Named in honor of the 19th-century Swiss naturalist Johann Jakob von Tschudi, combined with 'false coral snake' to describe its non-lethal mimicry of highly venomous true coral snakes.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tschudi false coral snake. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tschudi false coral snake