SPOAR
Society for Protecting Ophiofauna & Animal Rights
Society for Protecting Ophiofauna & Animal Rights
Snake List started with B
| Scientific Name : | Bungarus lividus |
| Family : | Elapidae |
| Local Name : | Lesser Black Krait, Krishnokalach, Kaal chiti |
| Description : | Bungarus lividus is the most mysterious snake among the genus Bungarus. It is too much difficult to different it from B. niger (greater black krait) for nearly same morphological characteristics, as well as for same distribution range. Bungarus lividus differs from all other kraits in having normal-sized or only slightly enlarged mid-dorsal scales (scales of the mid-dorsal row).   Sometimes mistakenly identified as juvenile rat snake too. The Lesser Black Krait (Bungarus lividus) is a small, secretive, nocturnal elapid snake. Dorsally glossy black (dark chocolate), ventrally white, yellowish white, ash colored. Maximum length still reported 88 cm (female). Pupil rounded black. Head is not distinct from neck Lower portion of upper lip and lower lip white. Eats small snakes & other animals (small rodent, rarely frogs).  We suspect that envenomation by B. lividus has so far been mistaken for Common Krait (B. caeruleus) envenomation because most clinical cases of snakebite with neurotoxicity in this region of South Asia are diagnosed as krait, cobra or Russells Viper envenomation based on clinical syndromes alone (Warrell, 2010 a, b) – if any diagnosis beyond snakebite is attempted. Lack of awareness of the species diversity of venomous snakes, and the rarity with which snake specimens are permanently preserved for taxonomic identification, have contributed to the popular but erroneous belief that only the four species included in the production of Indian polyvalent antivenoms. |
| Distribution Range : | West Bengal (Jalpaiguri district), Assam and might be at north eastern part of India. Also in south eastern Nepal & Dinajpur in Bangladesh. |
| Habitat : | Bushes and other hiding places within human habitat & also at forests. |
| Legal Protection : | WL(P)A, 1972-schedule IV. |
| Threat : | Rare, least concerned. |
