Nocturnal wanderings Banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus) highly venomous and endemic to Asia from Indian Subcontinent through Southeast Asia to Southern China. Banded kraits are shy, not typically seen, and are mainly nocturnal.
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Village whispers The venom of the banded krait mainly contains neurotoxins (pre- and postsynaptic neurotoxins). The major clinical effects caused by the venom of this species include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, and dizziness.
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Encounters with Danger Severe envenomation can lead to respiratory failure and death may occur due to suffocation. Banded krait venom can damage the kidneys if injected.
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A Fateful Bite In India, it has been recorded from Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Northeast India, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.
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Race against time It has recently been recorded from Hassan District in Karnataka, Chalkari, Bokaro District, Jharkhand, Trivandrum, Kerala and Amalapadu, Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh.
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Battle for life Banded kraits may be seen in a variety of habitats, ranging from forests to agricultural lands. They inhabit termite mounds and rodent holes close to water, and often live near human settlement, especially villages, because of their supply of rodents and water.
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Lessons learned Northeast has a rich background in herpetology, in another part of India, herpetology has taken another level and awareness but in Northeast, reptiles are still being on the radar of superstition and myth.
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