Krait
| Kraits |
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| Scientific classification |
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| Species |
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B. andamanensis
B. bungaroides
B. caeruleus
B. candidus
B. ceylonicus
B. fasciatus
B. flaviceps
B. lividus
B. magnimaculatus
B. multicinctus
B. niger
B. sindanus
Ref: 2004-07-02
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A krait is a very deadly snake. It lives in Asia and was featured in the story Rikki-Tikki-Tavi by Rudyard Kipling. There are 13 species. Six of them are found in India.
Venom of the banded krait is said to be 15 or 16 times more deadly than cobra venom. Fortunately, they are less aggressive. Some kraits have handsome patterns of color bands. Kraits eat mostly other snakes and small lizards.
The Common Krait has thin white bands on a dark body. It can grow to 6 feet. The Banded Krait, which displays a pretty pattern of yellow and black bands, is mostly found in northeast India. It may reach 8 feet in length. All kraits are nocturnal. They are slow to bite, and prefer to hide their head under their coils, often flailing their tail as a distraction.
Many kraits have pronounced dorso-lateral flattening, giving their body a triangular cross-section.
