Bungarus candidus

Bungarus candidus, commonly known as the Malayan krait or blue krait, is a highly venomous species of snake. The blue krait is a member of the genus Bungarus and the family Elapidae.

Bungarus candidus
From Karawang, West Java, Indonesia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Bungarus
Species:
B. candidus
Binomial name
Bungarus candidus
Synonyms

Coluber candidus Linnaeus, 1758

Description

The Malayan krait may attain a total length of 108 cm (43 in), with a tail 16 cm (6.3 in) 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 uniformly white.

An unbanded black phenotype also occurs in some populations, reportedly in West and Central Java.[2]

The smooth dorsal scales are arranged in 15 rows, with the vertebral row much enlarged. The ventrals number 195–237; the anal plate is entire; and the single (undivided) subcaudals are 37–56 in number.[3]

Distribution and habitat

It is found in Southeast Asia from Indochina south to Java and Bali in Indonesia.

Venom

In mice, the intravenous LD50 for this species is 0.1 mg/kg.[4] Its mortality rate is 60–70% in untreated humans.[5] The amount of venom injected is 5 mg, while the lethal dose for a 75kg human is 1 mg[6]

References
  • Das, Indraneil (2010). A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-East Asia. New Holland Publishers. ISBN 978-1-84773-347-4
Specific
  1. Wogan, G.; Vogel, G.; Grismer, L.; Chan-Ard, T.; Nguyen, T.Q. (2012). "Bungarus candidus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T192238A2059709. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192238A2059709.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. Kuch, Ulrich; Mebs, Dietrich (March 2007). "The identity of the Javan Krait, Bungarus javanicus Kopstein, 1932 (Squamata: Elapidae): evidence from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence analyses and morphology". Zootaxa. 1426 (1): 1–26. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1426.1.1. ISSN 1175-5334.
  3. Boulenger, George Albert (1896). Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Vol. III. London: Taylor and Francis. p. 368.
  4. Tan, Nget Hong. "Toxins from Venoms of Poisonous Snake Indigenous to Malaysia: A Review". Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine. University of Malaya. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  5. "Clinical Toxinology-Bungarus candidus". Clinical Toxinology Resources. University of Adelaide. Mortality rate:70%
  6. Habermehl, G. (2012-12-06). Venomous Animals and Their Toxins. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 978-3-642-88605-8.
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