 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
Krait
Scientific Name: Bungarus caeruleus
Nick Name:
Size: Average 90 centimeters, maximum 1.5 meters.
Appearance: Jet Black or bluish-black, usually with white narrow white thin crossbands (around about 40) and a narrow head. Body armored with Smooth and glossy scales. Actually, the body colour varies from a dark steely blue-black in a specimen which has freshly shed its skin to a pale faded bluish grey in one just about to shed. The young and some adults may have white spots along the first third of the backbone in place of the cross lines. This variation as well as uniform black variants appear in certain geographic races. The underside is white.
Type of Venom: Its venom is a powerful neurotoxin that causes respiratory failure.
Clinically it contains pre-synaptic neurotoxins. These neurotoxins generally affect the nerve endings near the synaptic gap of the brain. There is little or absolutely no pain in the bitten area and victims die complaining of severe abdominal cramps, after 6-8 hours after the bite.
Nature: It is active at night and relatively passive during the day.
Habitat: Open fields, human settlements, and dense jungle. The krait has a tendency to seek shelter in sleeping bags, boots, and tents.
Feeds on: rats and mice and are found in rat holes and termite mounds. They also prey on lizards and smaller snakes. They will devour their young being cannibalistic in nature.
Side Line:
|
|
