Bungarus bungaroides

Bungarus bungaroides
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Bungarus
Species:	B. bungaroides
Binomial name
Bungarus bungaroides (Cantor, 1839)
Synonyms
Elaps bungaroides Cantor, 1839 Xenurelaps bungaroides – Günther, 1864 Bungarus bungaroides – Boulenger, 1890

Bungarus bungaroides, the northeastern hill krait, is a venomous species of elapid snake. ^[2]

Description

This is a moderate- to large sized krait. Diagnostic characters:

• Dorsal scales in 15 longitudinal rows at midbody. Mid-dorsal scales are slightly enlarged anteriorly, but distinctly enlarged posteriorly.
• Subcaudal scutes ordinarily divided anteriorly, but occasionally some scutes may be single, but always divided near the tip
• Ventrals 220–237; subcaudals 44-51
• Dorsum – smooth, black with a series of very narrow white to pale yellowish lines or crossbars; on the belly, the light crossbars widen to form distinct transverse bars
• head slightly distinct from the neck. Top of the head is flat. Snout is blunt.
• Total length of largest male 1400 mm (55 in); tail length 160 mm (6.3 in)

Distribution and habitat

This species is found in Myanmar, India (Assam, Cachar, Sikkim), Nepal, and Vietnam at elevations around 2040 m as well as in Tibet. The type locality is given as: "Cherra Punjee, Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, India". ^{[3] [4]}

References

1. Wangyal, J.T.; Das, A.; Ghosh, A.; Limbu, K.P. (2022) [amended version of 2021 assessment]. "Bungarus bungaroides". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022 e.T192121A219114268. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T192121A219114268.en . Retrieved 15 August 2023.
2. Bücherl, W.; Buckley, E.E.; Deulofeu, V. (2013). Venomous Animals and Their Venoms: Venomous Vertebrates. Elsevier Science. p. 531. ISBN   978-1-4832-6363-2 . Retrieved 9 June 2019.
3. Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III. London. p. 371.
4. Bungarus bungaroides at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 18 November 2013.

• Boulenger, G. A. 1890. The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Reptilia and Batrachia. Taylor & Francis. London. xviii, 541 pp.
• Cantor, T.E. 1839. Spicilegium serpentium indicorum [parts 1 and 2]. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 7:31-34,49-55.
• Golay, P. 1985. Checklist and keys to the terrestrial proteroglyphs of the world (Serpentes: Elapidae – Hydrophiidae). Elapsoidea, Geneva.
• Slowinski, J. B. 1994. A phylogenetic analysis of Bungarus (Elapidae) based on morphological characters. Journal of Herpetology 28(4):440-446.