EXTREMELY VENOMOUS
Common krait
(Bungarus caeruleus)
Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) is medium size snake.
Average length :
2 ft 11 inMaximum Recorded :
5 ft 9 in
Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) feeds primarily on other snakes, and cannibalizes on other kraits. It also feeds on rats, and mice, lizards, and frogs. The juveniles kraits are known to eat arthropods and the blind snakes.
Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) is nocturnal, so seldom encounters humans during day. It is sluggish and generally docile in daytime. It often rolls its body into a loose, coiled ball, keeping its head well concealed inside the ball. When threatened, it coils up with its head concealed and body flattened, and makes jerky movements. It may also lift its tail. Normally it hesitate to bite, but when it does, it typically holds on for a while, which enables it to inject more amounts of venom. If threatened may become aggressive at night , since this is its active time. In India it is responsible for the second-highest number of snake bites.
Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) lives in a wide variety of habitats, from Grasslands, plains, agricultural lands, rocky terrain, urban areas. It rests in termite mounds, brick piles, rat holes, and even inside houses. It is generally visible in water or near to a water source.
Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus)can be found throughout India
India :
Common in most of indiaOther Countries :
Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Bangladesh, and Nepal.
Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) is Highly venomous snake, with nuerotoxin venom affecting the nervous system. They can cause descending flaccid paralysis. It can causes respiratory failure and The venom of the common Krait comprises substantial neurotoxins that cause muscular paralysis. Venom contains β-bungarotoxins and κ-neurotoxins, muscarinic toxin, phospholipases A2 (64.5% of total proteins), in which at least 4.6% are presynaptically-acting β-bungarotoxin A-chains. Three-finger toxins (19.0%) are the second most abundant, comprising 15.6% κ-neurotoxins, the potent postsynaptically-acting long neurotoxins.
Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) stay and guard their clutches until the young hatch. At birth, the hatchlings are about 25 to 27cm long
Oviparous :
Lays EggsMating season :
Mar-MayIncubation period :
about 60 daysClutch size :
12–14 eggs
Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) is Classified as Least Concern. Threats include habitat loss, accidental killings, and snakebite-related deaths.
करैत, कैली, Karait, Kaili, Kaal Gandheraaj.
in Hindi,വെള്ളിക്കെട്ടൻ, Shankhuvarayan, Vellikettan, Kattuviriyan
in Malayalamमण्यार, चंद्र कांडर (तळ कोकण), काणेर (गोवा), चूड (पालघर), नरकाकल्ले (गडचिरोली), Manyar, Chandra Kandar (Tal Konkan), Kaner (Goa), Chud (Palghar), Narakakalle (Gadchiroli)
in Marathiகட்டுவிரியன், புடையன்
in Tamilકાળોતરો, kaarotro
in Gujaratiରଣା, dhaara
in Odiaশঙ্খিনি (North Bengal), ডোমনাচিতি (North Bengal), শিয়ার চাঁদা (South Bengal), কালকেউটে সাপ, কালাচSankhini (North Bengal), Domnachiti (North Bengal), Shear Chanda (South Bengal), Calcutta snake, Kalach
in Banglaకట్లపాము, Katlapamu
in Telgu
Local names:
Interesting Fact
Common Kraits have cannibalistic behavior, with larger individuals known to feed on smaller ones. This behavior may be a result of competition for resources or territorial disputes.
