Krait
| Bungarus | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Bungarus fasciatus (the largest species of krait) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: |
Bungarus Daudin, 1803 |
| Synonyms | |
Bungarus is a genus of venomous elapid snakes, the kraits ("krait" is pronounced /kraɪt/, rhyming with "kite"), found in South and Southeast Asia. There are 14 species and five subspecies (excluding nominal) recognized.
Kraits are found in the Indian Subcontinent (including Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) and Southeast Asia (including Indonesia and Borneo).
Kraits usually range between 1 and 1.5 m (3 ft 3 in and 4 ft 11 in) in length, although specimens as large as 2 m have been observed. The banded krait (B. fasciatus) may grow as large as 2.125 m (6 ft 11.7 in). Most species of kraits are covered in smooth, glossy scales arranged in bold, striped patterns of alternating black and light-colored areas. This may serve as aposematic colouration in its habitat of grassland and scrub jungle. The scales along the dorsal ridge of the back are hexagonal. The head is slender and the eyes have round pupils. Kraits have pronounced dorsolateral flattening, which causes them to be triangular in cross section. The tail tapers to a thin point.
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Wikipedia