· The banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus) is a species of elapid snake found on the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast
Asia. It is one of the largest kraits, with
a maximum length up to 2.1 m (6 ft. 11 in).
· B.
fasciatus is
easily identified by its alternate black and yellow crossbands, its triangular
body cross section, and the marked vertebral ridge consisting of enlarged
vertebral shields along its body. The head is broad and depressed. The eyes are
black. It has arrowhead-like yellow markings on its otherwise black head and
has yellow lips, lores, chin, and throat.
· The
longest banded krait measured was 2.25 m (7 ft. 5 in) long, but
normally the length encountered is 1.8 m (5 ft. 11 in).
·
The snake has an entire anal plate and
single subcaudals. The tail is small and ends like a fingertip, generally being
one-tenth the length of the snake.
· The
banded krait occurs in the whole of the Indo-Chinese subregion, the Malaysian peninsula and archipelago, and southern China. The
species is common in Assam and Tripura
of India and Bangladesh, but becomes progressively
uncommon westwards in India.
· It
has been recorded eastwards from central India through Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and southern China (including
Hong Kong), Philippines to Malaysia and the main Indonesia islands of Borneo (Java and Sumatra),
as well as Singapore.
· In
India, it has been recorded from Andhra
Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Northeast India, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. It has recently been recorded from Hassan District in Karnataka,
also.
· Banded
kraits may be seen in a variety of habitats, ranging from forests to
agricultural lands. They inhabit termite mounds and rodent holes close to water, and often live
near human settlement, especially villages, because of their supply of rodents
and water. They prefer the open plains of the countryside. The banded krait has
been found in Myanmar up to an altitude of 5000 feet.
· Banded
kraits are shy, not typically seen, and are mainly nocturnal. When harassed, they will
usually hide their heads under their coils, and do not generally attempt to
bite,[2] though
at night they are much more active and widely considered to be more dangerous
then.
·
During the day, they lie up in grass,
pits, or drains. The snakes are lethargic and sluggish even under provocation.
They are most commonly seen in the rains.
· Little is known of its breeding habits. In Myanmar, a female has been dug out while incubating a clutch of
eight eggs, four of which hatched in May. Young have been recorded to measure
298 to 311 mm on hatching. The snake is believed to become adult in the
third year of its life, at an approximate length of 914 mm.
·
Very toxic. Deadly. This yellow/black banded krait from Thailand
appears to have venom that is very toxic to humans. The typical LD-50 studies
to assess the toxicity of venom in mice, rate this as a very toxic venom as
well. These snakes rarely bite during the day, but if they do, they can
transfer enough venom to kill you. I read about a person dying in 30 minutes,
and another dying in 15 hours. A famous American herpetologist, Joe Slowinski,
was killed by a baby krait (Bungarus multicinctus)
in Burma while on a remote expedition. They can be quite deadly. The cause of
death is that your muscles are paralyzed and your diaphragm can’t work any
longer to pull oxygen into your lungs. Kraits are very deadly in
this regard. However, if you are able to get to a hospital with a ventilator
you will likely be OK. There is no specific antivenin for snake bites from this
snake, but polyvalent venom is used – which can also treat bites from Naja kaouthia and Ophiophagus
hannah.
·
Interesting to note… when fed on a live garter snake the krait
venom acts instantly to cause death. Apparently krait venom is very efficient
with snakes – the krait’s primary diet.