Lesser black krait

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Lesser black krait
Bungarus lividus, Lesser Black Krait at Jalpaiguri, India.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Bungarus
Species:
B. lividus
Binomial name
Bungarus lividus
Cantor, 1839
Bungarus lividus Map.jpg

The lesser black krait (Bungarus lividus) is a species of venomous elapid snake found in India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. [2] [3] [4] The specific epithet is after Latin lividus, meaning "bluish metal-colored" or "lead-colored", referring to the snake's coloration.

Contents

Description

The Lesser black krait is a rather small sized snake. The body (dorsum) is smooth and black to bluish-black in colour. The upper lip is white. The ventrals are white with grey edges. The eyes are small, black with round pupils. Eyes are positioned more towards the snout. The scales are arranged in 15 dorsal rows (15:15:15). The mid-dorsal (vertebral) scales are only slightly enlarged than the other rows. Anal and subcaudal scales are undivided. 7 supralabials(3rd & 4th touches eye), 7 infralabials(3rd touches anterior genial); Temporals 1+2; Postocular 2. [5]

Distribution

India(North Bengal, Northeast India), Bangladesh, Nepal [6]

Type locality: Assam, India

Ecology

Feeding

The krait is primarily ophiophagous, meaning it preys on other snakes.

References

  1. Limbu, K.P.; Ghosh, A.; Das, A.; Giri, V. (2022) [amended version of 2021 assessment]. "Bungarus lividus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2022 e.T127914543A219117279. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T127914543A219117279.en . Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  2. Bungarus lividus at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database . Accessed 14 July 2020.
  3. Harding, K.A.; Welch, K.R.G. (1980). Venomous Snakes of the World: A Checklist. Toxicon: Supplement. Pergamon Press. p. 8. ISBN   978-0-08-025495-1 . Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  4. "Lesser Black Krait ( Bungarus lividus Cantor, 1839 )". indiansnakes.org. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  5. Das, Abhijit 2018. Notes on Snakes of the Genus Bungarus (Serpentes: Elapidae) from Northeast India. in: C. Sivaperuman, K. Venkataraman (eds.), Indian Hotspots, Springer
  6. "Small, secretive & highly venomous snake seen for first time in Nepal's hills". Mongabay. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.

Further reading