Common krait
| Common Krait | |
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| Species: | B. caeruleus
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| Bungarus caeruleus | |
The Common Krait (Bungarus caeruleus) is a type of krait that is found in the jungles of the Indian sub-continent. This snake is highly venomous, and is one of the "big four" snakes in India.
Description
The body colour varies from a dark steely blue-black to a pale faded bluish grey. The average length is 1 meter. Subcaudal scales after the anal scales are not divided. It has large hexagonal scales running down its spine. The white cross bands are more prominent near the tail region.
The male is larger than the female and also has a longer tail.
Common names
- Hindi - Karait.
- Bengali - Kalach, Domnachiti (North Bengal), Shiyar Chanda (South Bengal).
- Urdu - Kala gandait.
- Kannada - Kattige haavu.
- Telugu - Katla paamu.
- Gujarati - Kala taro.
- Marathi - Manyar, kanadar.
- Oriya - Chitti.
- Tamil - Kattu viriyan, Yennai viriyan, Yettadi viriyan.
- Malayalam - Velli Kattan (Malabar and Cochin), Ettadi veeran (Travancore).
- Sinhala - Karawala.
- Tulu - Katta Kadambale.
Geographic range
Peninsular India from Sindh (Pakistan), to the West Bengal plains. It occurs throughout South India and Sri Lanka.
Habitat
Inhabits a wide variety of habitat in its range. It is found in fields, low scrub jungle as well as inhabited areas. Their fondness for rodents leads them to take up residence in rat holes, termite mounds, brick piles and also inside houses. It is fond of water and is frequently found in it or within proximity to a water source.
Behaviour
A nocturnal snake. The males aggressively maintain territories. Kraits also only bite during the night, unless disturbed during the day, scientists are still researching why these animals only bite during nocturnal hours. Some believe it is because they are nocturnal hunters, making them only aggressive during the night.
Feeding
These snakes prey on other snakes, rats, mice, and lizards and skinks. They will devour their young being cannibalistic in nature. Young are known to eat arthropods. As per Daniels, the common krait feeds primarily on other snakes, including blind worms and other kraits, and also feeds on small mammals, frogs and lizards. This snake is nocturnal. It is very active and agile at night. It often hides in rodent holes, loose soil or beneath debris, so it is rarely seen during day.
Behavior
Behavioral differences during day and nighttime have been reported in Bungarus caeruleus. During the day it is sluggish and rolls its body into a loose coiled ball, keeping its head well-concealed. In balled condition, the snake allows considerable handling, however, over handling often instigates bites. At night the snake is very active, escapes by hissing loudly, or keeping still, occasionally biting the source of the annoyance.
When agitated, it will coil up with head concealed, body flattened, and make jerky movements. May also lift its tail. Reluctant to bite, but may make a quick snapping bite. Generally docile and unaggressive during the day, it may become aggressive at night. This is one of the most dangerous Bunguarus species. The mortality rate from its bites is high.
Venom
Krait venom is extremely neurotoxic and quickly induces muscle paralysis. Clinically, their venom contains pre-synaptic neurotoxins, and is many times more venomous than that of the common cobras.These neurotoxins generally affect the nerve endings near the synaptic gap of the brain. Kraits are nocturnal and seldom encounter humans during daylight hours, so incidents are rare. Note that there is frequently little or no pain from a krait bite and this can provide false reassurance to the victim. Typically, victims complain of severe abdominal cramps, accompanied by progressive paralysis. As there are no local symptoms, a patient should be carefully observed for signs of paralysis (eg the onset of ptosis) and treated urgently with antivenin. Note that it is also possible to support bite victims via mechanical ventilation, using equipment of the type generally available at hospitals. Such support should be provided until the venom is metabolised and the victim can breathe unaided. If death occurs it takes place approximately 6-8 hours after the krait bite. Cause of death is general respiratory failure i.e. suffocation.
Cultural reference
In the famous story in The Jungle Book, "Rikki Tikki Tavi," Karait, a dustbrown krait, threatens the boy. Rikki, a young mongoose does battle with the snake and the narrator emphasizes that he is a dangerous opponent, even more than a cobra in some respects. Regardless of the risk and the mongoose's inexperience, Rikki defeats him.
Other references
Romulus Whitaker (1978). COMMON INDIAN SNAKES: A Field Guide. Macmillan India Limited.
External links
- http://wildlifesos.com/rprotect/Big4.htm - a site about venomous snakes in India.
- Snakes in Sri Lanka