Southeast Asia 



Banded Krait, Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider). 



Identification: A marked vertebral ridge giving a 

 permanently emaciated appearance, and a distinctly 

 blunt tail are characteristic of this species. 



Pattern of alternating light and dark bands encircling 

 the body and of almost equal width. The light bands 

 are usually bright yellow, occasionally white, pale brown 

 or orange; the dark bands are black. 



Average length 4 to .'> feet ; maximum al)out 7 feet. 



Distriliiitioii: Eastern India to soulliern China and 

 south through much of Malaysia and Indonesia. Occurs 

 in ratlier open country to elevations of about 5,000 feet, 

 often found near water. 



Remarks: This is such a surprisingly quiet. Inoffen- 

 sive snake that it is believed harmless over much of the 

 territory where it is found. When annoyed it curls uj). 



-' ;-.^^; 



Figure 81. — Banded Krait, ISungarus fasciatus. The 

 blunt tail is typical. I'hoto by New York Zoological 

 Society. 



hides its head beneath its coils, and makes jerky flinch- 

 ing movements but does not bite except in rare instances. 

 Cases of snakebite due to the banded krait are almost 

 unknown. Its venom is of lower toxicity for animals 

 than that of .some other kraits. Antivenin is produced 

 by the Institut Pasteur. Paris: the Institut Pasteur 

 Bandung, Indonesia and the Queen Saovabha Memorial 

 Institute, Bangkok. 



Red-headed Krait, Ihtngarus fuviceps Reinhardt. 



htcntifivaiiini: General ai)pearance like the banded 

 krait, but tail only slightly blunt ; anterior subcaudals 

 entire, posterior ones divided. 



Very striking and distinctive coloring — head and tail 



bright red. body black with narrow bluish white stripe 

 low on side, and sometimes a narrow orange stripe or 

 row of dots down middle of back. 



Size about the same as the banded krait. 





FiGfKE 82. — Red-headed Krait, lUmgarus flaviceps. 

 Both the head and the tail are bright red in this 

 si>ecies. Photo by I). Dwight Davis. 



nislritiiition: Southern Burma to Viet Nam and south 

 tlirougli Malaysia and larger islands of Indonesia. In- 

 habits jungle mostly in hilly or mountainous country. A 

 rare snake. 



Ifcwarkx: .Vp|)arently much like the banded krait 

 in behavior. No study of its venom has been done nor 

 are there re<'or(ls of its biting man. Antivenin is pro- 

 duccil tiy IiislltuI I'asleur, Paris. 



ELAPIDAE: Genus Calliopbis Gray, 1834. 



Oriental coral snakes. 



Tliirteen spe<'ies are recognized; all inhabit the region 

 of southeastern .\sia. Most are snuill species l)ut a few 

 exceed :i fi^-t In length. M least the larger individuals 

 are ciuisidered dangerou.s. 



Definition: Head small, not distinct from body. Body 

 cylindrical, slender and elongated; tail .short. 



Figure 83. — Head Scales of Oriental Coral Snake, Cal- 

 Jiophis. Redrawn from Maki, 1931. 



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