Common krait
| Common krait | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Bungarus |
| Species: | B. caeruleus |
| Binomial name | |
| Bungarus caeruleus (Schneider, 1801) | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Pseudoboa caerulea Schneider, 1801, Bungarus candidus var. Cærulus Boulenger, 1896 | |
The common krait (Bungarus caeruleus) is a highly venomous snake species belonging to the genus Bungarus in the family Elapidae. Native to South Asia, it is widely distributed across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal, inhabiting diverse environments such as grasslands, agricultural fields, and human settlements. The species is nocturnal and is characterized by its black or bluish-black body with narrow white crossbands, typically reaching lengths of 3 to 4 feet. Known for its potent neurotoxic venom, the common krait is one of the "Big Four" snake species responsible for the majority of medically significant snakebites in South Asia.