Coral snake
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2008-07-16T18:38:10Z
12.96.7.15
{{unreferenced|date=June 2008}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Coral Snakes
| image = coral snake.jpg
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Chordate|Chordata]]
| classis = [[Sauropsida]]
| ordo = [[Squamata]]
| subordo = [[Serpentes]]
| familia = [[Elapidae]]
| genus = '''''Leptomicrurus'''''<br>'''''Micrurus'''''<br>'''''Micruroides'''''
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = Over 65, see article.
}}
The '''coral snakes''' are a large group of [[elapid]] [[snakes]] that can be divided into two distinct groups, [[New World]] coral snakes and [[Old World]] [[Calliophis|coral snakes]]. There are three [[genus|genera]] among New World coral snakes that consist of over 65 recognized [[species]].
Coral snakes are most notable for their red, yellow/white, and black colored banding. Several [[Snake venom|nonvenomous]] species have similar coloration, however, including the [[Scarlet Kingsnake]] and the [[Milk Snake]]. In some regions, the order of the bands distinguishes between the non-venomous mimics and the venomous coral snakes, inspiring some folk rhymes — "Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, friendly jack", and "Red and yellow, kill a fellow; red and black, venom lack". However, this only reliably applies to coral snakes in North America: ''[[Micrurus fulvius]]'', ''[[Micrurus tener]]'', and ''[[Micruroides euryxantus]]'', found in the southern and eastern [[United States]]. Coral snakes found in other parts of the world can have distinctly different patterns, and can even have red bands touching black bands, have only pink and blue banding, or have no banding at all.
Most species of coral snake are small in size. North American species average around 36" in length, but specimens of up to 60" or slightly larger have been reported. Aquatic species have flattened tails, to act as a fin, aiding in swimming.
== Behavior ==
Coral snakes vary widely in their behavior, but most are very elusive, [[fossorial]] snakes which spend the vast majority of their time buried in the ground or in leaf litter of a [[rainforest]] floor, only coming to the surface during rains or during breeding season. Some species, like ''Micrurus surinamensis'' are almost entirely [[aquatic animal|aquatic]] and spend most of their lives in slow moving bodies of water that have dense vegetation.
Like all elapid snakes, coral snakes use a pair of small fangs, which are fixed in the front of their top jaw, to deliver their venom. Due to the time it takes for the venom to take effect, coral snakes have a tendency to hold on to a victim when biting, unlike [[Viperidae|viper]]s which have retractable fangs and tend to prefer to strike and let go immediately. Coral snakes are not aggressive or prone to biting however, and account for less than a single percent of the number of snake bites each year in the United States. Most coral [[snake bite]]s occur because of accidental handling of the snake while engaged in an activity like [[gardening]].
== Venom ==
Coral snakes possess the most potent venom of any North American snake. However, few bites are recorded due to their reclusive nature and the fact they generally inhabit sparsely populated areas. When confronted by humans, coral snakes will almost always attempt to flee, and bite only as a last resort. In addition, coral snakes have short fangs that cannot penetrate thick shoe leather. Any bite however, is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Coral snakes have a powerful neurotoxin that paralyzes the breathing muscles; mechanical or artificial respiration, along with large doses of antivenom, are often required to save a victim's life. There is usually only mild pain associated with a bite, but breathing difficulties and [[ptosis]] can occur within hours.
== Taxonomy ==
'''Genus''' ''Leptomicrurus'':
*[[Guyana]] Blackback Coral Snake, ''Leptomicrurus collaris'' - northern [[South America]].
:*''Leptomicrurus collaris collaris'' ([[Hermann Schlegel|Schlegel]], [[1837]])
:*Leptomicrurus collaris breviventris'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]] & Bernal-Carlo, [[1987]])
*Andes/Andean Blackback Coral Snake, ''Leptomicrurus narduccii''
:*''Leptomicrurus narduccii narduccii'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1863]])
:*''Leptomicrurus narduccii melanotus'' ([[Wilhelm Peters|Peters]], [[1881]])
'''Genus''' ''[[Micruroides]]'':
*[[Arizona]] Coral Snake, ''Micruroides euryxanthus'' - lowland regions from [[Arizona]] to [[Sinaloa]].
:*''Micruroides euryxanthus australis'' (Zweifel & Norris, [[1955]])
:*''Micruroides euryxanthus euryxanthus'' ([[Robert Kennicott|Kennicott]], [[1860]])
:*''Micruroides euryxanthus neglectus'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
'''Genus''' ''[[Micrurus]]'':
*Allen's Coral Snake, ''Micrurus alleni'' - eastern [[Nicaragua]], [[Costa Rica]], and [[Panama]].
:*''Micrurus alleni alleni'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1936]])
:*''Micrurus alleni richardi'' ([[Edward Harrison Taylor|Taylor]], [[1951]])
:*''Micrurus alleni yatesi'' ([[Edward Harrison Taylor|Taylor]], [[1954]])
*''Micrurus altirostris'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1860]]) - [[Brazil]], [[Uruguay]], and northeastern [[Argentina]].
*Regal Coral Snake, ''Micrurus ancoralis'' - southeastern [[Panama]], western [[Colombia]], and western [[Ecuador]]
:*''Micrurus ancoralis jani'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1936]])
:*''Micrurus ancoralis ancoralis'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1872]])
*Annellated Coral Snake, ''Micrurus annellatus'' - southeastern [[Ecuador]], eastern [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]], and western [[Brazil]].
:*''Micrurus annellatus annellatus'' ([[Wilhelm Peters|Peters]], [[1871]])
:*''Micrurus annellatus balzanii'' ([[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], [[1898]])
:*''Micrurus annellatus bolivianus'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
*Black-headed Coral Snake, ''Micrurus averyi'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1939]])
*''Micrurus bernadi'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1887]]) - [[Mexico]].
*[[Ecuador]]ian Coral Snake, ''Micrurus bocourti'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1872]]) - western [[Ecuador]] to northern [[Colombia]],
*Bogert's Coral Snake, ''Micrurus bogerti'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]]) - [[Oaxaca]].
*Brown's Coral Snake, ''Micrurus browni'' - [[Quintana Roo]] to [[Honduras]].
:*''Micrurus browni browni'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]] & [[Hobart M. Smith|Smith]], [[1943]])
:*''Micrurus browni importunus'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
:*''Micrurus browni Taylori'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]] & [[Hobart M. Smith|Smith]], [[1943]])
*''Micrurus camilae'' (Renjifo & Lundberg, [[2003]]) - [[Colombia]].
*Catamayo Coral Snake, ''Micrurus catamayensis'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1989]]) - Catamayo Valley of [[Ecuador]].
*Clark's Coral Snake, ''Micrurus clarki'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1936]]) - southeastern [[Costa Rica]] to western [[Colombia]].
*Painted Coral Snake, ''Micrurus corallinus'' ([[Blasius Merrem|Merrem]], [[1820]])
*[[Brazil]]ian Coral Snake, ''Micrurus decoratus'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1858]])
*''Micrurus diana'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1983]]
*Variable Coral Snake, ''Micrurus diastema''
:*''[[Micrurus diastema diastema]]'' ([[André Marie Constant Duméril|Duméril]], [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]], & [[Auguste Duméril|Duméril]], [[1854]])
:*''[[Micrurus diastema aglaeope]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1859]])
:*''[[Micrurus diastema alienus]]'' ([[Franz Werner|Werner]], [[1903]])
:*''[[Micrurus diastema affinis]]'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1858]])
:*''[[Micrurus diastema apiatus]]'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1858]])
:*''[[Micrurus diastema macdougalli]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
:*''[[Micrurus diastema sapperi]]'' ([[Franz Werner|Werner]], [[1903]])
*[[Pygmy Coral Snake]] , ''[[Micrurus dissoleucus]]''
:*''[[Micrurus dissoleucus dissoleucus]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1860]])
:*''[[Micrurus dissoleucus dunni]]'' ([[Thomas Barbour|Barbour]], [[1923]])
:*''[[Micrurus dissoleucus melanogenys]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1860]])
:*''[[Micrurus dissoleucus meridensis]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1989]])
:*''[[Micrurus dissoleucus nigrirostris]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1955]])
*West [[Mexico|Mexican]] Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus distans]]''
:*''[[Micrurus distans distans]]'' ([[Robert Kennicott|Kennicott]], [[1860]])
:*''[[Micrurus distans michoacanensis]]'' (Duges, [[1891]])
:*''[[Micrurus distans oliveri]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
:*''[[Micrurus distans zweifeli]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
*''[[Micrurus dumerilii]]''
:*''[[Micrurus dumerili antioquiensis]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1936]])
:*''[[Micrurus dumerili carinicaudus]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1936]])
:*''[[Micrurus carinicauda]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1936]])
:*''[[Micrurus dumerili colombianus]]'' (Griffin, [[1916]])
:*''[[Micrurus dumerili transandinus]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1936]])
:*''[[Micrurus dumerili venezuelensis]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1989]])
*Elegant Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus elegans]]''
:*''[[Micrurus elegans elegans]]'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1858]])
:*''[[Micrurus elegans veraepacis]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1933]])
*[[Oaxaca]]n Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus ephippifer]]''
:*''[[Micrurus ephippifer zapotecus]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1989]])
:*''[[Micrurus ephippifer ephippifer]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1886]])
*Slender Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus filiformis]]''
:*''[[Micrurus filiformis filiformis]]'' ([[Albert C. L. G. Günther|Günther]], [[1859]])
:*''[[Micrurus filiformis subtilis]]'' ([[J. A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]]
*Southern Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus frontalis]]'' - [[Brazil]] to northeastern [[Argentina]].
:*''[[Micrurus frontalis frontalis]]'' ([[André Marie Constant Duméril|Duméril]], [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]], & [[Auguste Duméril|Duméril]], [[1854]])
:*''[[Micrurus frontalis brasiliensis]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
:*''[[Micrurus frontalis mesopotamicus]]'' (Barrio & Miranda [[1967]])
*[[Bolivia]]n Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus frontifasciatus]]'' ([[Franz Werner|Werner]], [[1927]])
*Eastern Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus fulvius]]'' ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1766]]) - coastal plains of [[North Carolina]] to [[Louisiana]]
*Hemprich's Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus hemprichii]]''
:*''[[Micrurus hemprichii hemprichii]]'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1858]])
:*''[[Micrurus hemprichii ortoni]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1953]])
:*''[[Micrurus hemprichii rondonianus]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]] & [[Da Silva (disambiguation)|Da Silva]]{{dn}}, [[1990]])
*Mayan Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus hippocrepis]]'' ([[Wilhelm Peters|Peters]], [[1862]])
*Caatinga Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus ibiboboca]]'' ([[Blasius Merrem|Merrem]], [[1820]])
*[[Venezuela]] Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus isozonus]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1860]])
*Langsdorff's Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus langsdorffi]]''
:*''[[Micrurus langsdorffi langsdorffi]]'' ([[Johann Georg Wagler|Wagler]], [[1824]])
:*''[[Micrurus langsdorffi ornatissimus]]'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1858]])
*Balsan Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus laticollaris]]''
:*''[[Micrurus laticollaris laticollaris]]'' ([[Wilhelm Peters|Peters]], [[1870]])
:*''[[Micrurus laticollaris maculirostris]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
*Broad-ringed Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus latifasciatus]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1933]])
*[[South American]] Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus lemniscatus]]'' - most of low lying areas of [[South America]].
:*''[[Micrurus lemniscatus lemniscatus]]'' ([[Carolus Linnaeus|Linnaeus]], [[1758]])
:*''[[Micrurus lemniscatus carvalhoi]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
:*''[[Micrurus lemniscatus diutius]]'' ([[W.L. Burger|Burger]], [[1955]])
:*''[[Micrurus lemniscatus frontifasciatus]]'' ([[Franz Werner|Werner]], [[1927]])
:*''[[Micrurus lemniscatus helleri]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]] & [[F.J.W. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1925]])
*Tuxtlan Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus limbatus]]''
:*''[[Micrurus limbatus limbatus]]'' ([[D.F. Fraser|Fraser]], [[1964]])
:*''[[Micrurus limbatus spilosomus]]'' ([[Perez-Higaredo]] & [[Hobart M. Smith|Smith]], [[1990]])
*Speckled Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus margaritiferus]]'' ([[J. A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
*''[[Micrurus medemi]]'' ([[J. A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
*Mertens' Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus mertensi]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1936]])
*Redtail Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus mipartitus]]''
:*''[[Micrurus mipartitus mipartitus]]'' ([[André Marie Constant Duméril|Duméril]], [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]], & [[Auguste Duméril|Duméril]], [[1854]])
:*''[[Micrurus mipartitus anomalus]]'' ([[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], [[1896]])
:*''[[Micrurus mipartitus decussatus]]'' ([[André Marie Constant Duméril|Duméril]], [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]], & [[Auguste Duméril|Duméril]], [[1854]])
:*''[[Micrurus mipartitus semipartitus]]'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1858]])
*Many-banded Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus multifasciatus]]''
:*''[[Micrurus multifasciatus multifasciatus]]'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1858]])
:*''[[Micrurus multifasciatus hertwigi]]'' ([[Franz Werner|Werner]], [[1897]])
*Cauca Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus multiscutatus]]'' ([[H. Rendahl|Rendahl]] & [[G. Vestergren|Vestergren]], [[1940]])
*[[Cloud Forest]] Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus nebularis]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1989]])
*[[Central American]] Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus nigrocinctus]]'' - [[Yucatan]] and [[Chiapas]] to [[Colombia]] as well as western [[Caribbean]] islands
:*''[[Micrurus nigrocinctus babaspul]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
:*''[[Micrurus nigrocinctus coibensis]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1936]])
:*''[[Micrurus nigrocinctus divaricatus]]'' ([[Edward Hallowell (herpetologist)|Hallowell]], [[1855]])
:*''[[Micrurus nigrocinctus mosquitensis]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1933]])
:*''[[Micrurus nigrocinctus nigrocinctus]]'' ([[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard]], [[1854]])
:*''[[Micrurus nigrocinctus ovandoensis]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]] & [[Hobart M. Smith|Smith]], [[1943]])
:*''[[Micrurus nigrocinctus wagneri]]'' ([[Robert Mertens|Mertens]], [[1941]])
:*''[[Micrurus nigrocinctus yatesi]]'' (Dunn, [[1942]])
:*''[[Micrurus nigrocinctus zunilensis]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1932]])
*''[[Micrurus pacaraimae]]'' ([[C. Morata de Carvalho|Morata de Carvalho]], [[2002]])
*''[[Micrurus pachecogili]]'' ([[J.A. Campbell|Campbell]], [[2000]])
*''[[Micrurus paraensis]]'' (Da Cunha & Nascimento, [[1973]])
*[[Peru]]vian Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus peruvianus]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1936]])
*Peters' Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus petersi]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
*[[Nayarit]] Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus proximans]]'' ([[Hobart M. Smith|Smith]] & [[P.S. Chrapliwy|Chrapliwy]], [[1958]])
*Carib Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus psyches]]''
:*''[[Micrurus psyches circinalis]]'' ([[André Marie Constant Duméril|Duméril]], [[Gabriel Bibron|Bibron]] & [[Auguste Duméril|Duméril]], [[1854]])
:*''[[Micrurus psyches donosoi]]'' ([[A.R. Hoge|Hoge]], Cordeiro, & Romano, [[1976]])
:*''[[Micrurus psyches psyches]]'' ([[François Marie Daudin|Daudin]], [[1803]])
*Putumayo Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus putumayensis]]'' ([[V. Lancini|Lancini]], [[1962]])
*''[[Micrurus pyrrhocryptus]]'' ([[Edward Drinker Cope|Cope]], [[1862]])
*''[[Micrurus remotus]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1987]])
*''[[Micrurus renjifoi]]'' ([[William W. Lamar|Lamar]], [[2003]])
*[[Roatan]] Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus ruatanus]]'' ([[Albert C. L. G. Günther|Günther]], [[1895]])
*Santander Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus sangilensis]]'' ([[Nicéforo-Maria]], [[1942]])
*''[[Micrurus scutiventris]]'' ([[A.R. Hoge|Hoge]], & [[S. Romano-Hoge|Romano-Hoge]], [[1966]])
*''[[Micrurus silviae]]'' Di-Bernardo et al., 2007
*[[Amazon basin|Amazon]] Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus spixii]]''
:*''[[Micrurus spixii spixii]]'' ([[Johann Georg Wagler|Wagler]], [[1824]])
:*''[[Micrurus spixiii martiusi]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1953]])
:*''[[Micrurus spixii obscurus]]'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1872]])
:*''[[Micrurus spixii princeps]]'' ([[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], [[1905]])
*''[[Micrurus spurelli]]'' ([[George Albert Boulenger|Boulenger]], [[1914]])
*Steindachner's Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus steindachneri]]''
:*''[[Micrurus steindachneri steindachneri]]'' ([[Franz Werner|Werner]], [[1901]])
:*''[[Micrurus steindachneri orcesi]]'' ([[J. A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
*[[Panama|Panamenian]] Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus stewarti]]'' ([[Thomas Barbour|Barbour]] & [[A.D. Amaral|Amaral]], [[1928]])
*Stuart's Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus stuarti]]'' ([[J. A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
*Aquatic Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus surinamensis]]''
:*''[[Micrurus surinamensis surinamensis]]'' ([[Georges Cuvier|Cuvier]], [[1817]])
:*''[[Micrurus surinamensis nattereri]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1952]])
*''[[Micrurus tamaulipensis]]'' ([[Pablo A. Lavin-Murcio|Lavin-Murcio]] & [[James R. Dixon|Dixon]], [[2004]]) - [[Sierra Madre Oriental]] in [[Tamaulipas]].
[[Image:Micrurus_tener.jpg|240px|thumb|Texas Coral Snake, ''Micrurus tener'']]
*[[Texas]] Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus tener]]'' - [[Texas]] and [[Louisiana]] south to [[Morelos]] and [[Guanajuato]].
:*''[[Micrurus tener fitzingeri]]'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1858]])
:*''[[Micrurus tener maculatus]]'' ([[J.A. Roze|Roze]], [[1967]])
:*''[[Micrurus tener microgalbineus]]'' ([[B.C. Brown|Brown]], & [[Hobart M. Smith|Smith]], [[1942]])
:*''[[Micrurus tener tener]]'' ([[Spencer Fullerton Baird|Baird]], & [[Charles Frédéric Girard|Girard]], [[1853]])
*''[[Micrurus tricolor]]'' ([[A.R. Hoge|Hoge]], [[1956]])
*[[Desert]] Coral Snake, ''[[Micrurus tschudii]]'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1858]])
:*''[[Micrurus tschudii olssoni]]'' ([[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]] & [[Karl P. Schmidt|Schmidt]], [[1925]])
:*''[[Micrurus tschudii tschudii]]'' ([[G. Jan|Jan]], [[1858]])
== Mimicry ==
New World coral snakes are known to mimic [[False coral snakes]], snake species whose venom is less toxic. This is a rare example of [[Mertensian mimicry]]. Species of false coral snake include:
*[[Erythrolamprus aesculapii]]
*[[Erythrolamprus bizona]]
*[[Erythrolamprus ocellatus]] (AKA Tobago False Coral)
*[[Oxyrhopus petola]]
[[Category: elapidae]]
[[bg:Коралови змии]]
[[cs:Korálovec]]
[[de:Korallenottern]]
[[es:Serpiente de coral]]
[[fr:Micrurus]]
[[ka:მარჯნისფერი ასპიტები]]
[[lt:Koralinės gyvatės]]
[[nl:Micrurus]]
[[no:Korallslanger]]
[[pt:Cobra-coral]]