Bungarus candidus

Bungarus candidus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Bungarus
Species:	B. candidus
Binomial name
Bungarus candidus (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Coluber candidus Linnaeus, 1758

Bungarus candidus, commonly known as the Malayan krait or blue krait, is a species of krait, a venomous elapid snake.

Geographic range

It is found in southeast Asia from Indochina south to Java and Bali

Description

The Malayan krait may attain a total length of 108 cm (about 3½ feet), with a tail 16 cm (6¼ inches) long.

Dorsally it has a pattern of 27-34 dark brown, black, or bluish black crossbands on the body and tail, which are narrowed and rounded on the sides. The first crossband is continuous with the dark color of the head. The dark crossbands are separated by broad yellowish-white interspaces, which may be spotted with black. Ventrally it is uniform white.

The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 15 rows, the vertebral row much enlarged. The ventrals are 195-237; the anal plate is entire; and the single (undivided) subcaudals are 37-56.^[1]

References

1. ^ Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History), Volume III. London. p. 368.

• Das, Indraneil (2010). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers. ISBN 9781847733474