A boldly black-and-yellow ringed elapid of South and Southeast Asia, shy by day but highly venomous if cornered.
Description
The banded krait is unmistakable, with broad alternating bands of glossy black and bright yellow ringing the entire body and tail. The body is triangular in cross-section thanks to a prominent vertebral ridge, and the blunt tail ends in an abrupt rounded tip.
Behavior
Almost entirely nocturnal, banded kraits are sluggish and reluctant to bite during the day, often hiding the head under the body and presenting only their coiled mass when disturbed. At night they become alert and active, hunting other snakes — even venomous species.
Range
Widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, from eastern India and southern China to peninsular Malaysia and parts of Indonesia. They are often encountered in rice paddies and around villages but are far less dangerous than the related common krait.