Red-headed Krait

Description:

This extremely rare snake's nature is inoffensive, presents a very striking and distinctive coloration – namely a bright red head and tail with a black body that includes a low-lateral narrow bluish white stripe. Having large, smooth scales, the general appearance of the red-headed krait is glossy and attractive. The red-headed krait (Bungarus flaviceps), is a large venomous elapid snake with dramatic coloration. The red-headed krait can grow up to 2.1 m (6.9 ft). It lives in lowland rain forest, including those on islands, but it is considered uncommon. It feeds primarily on specific snakes, probably semiaquatic and fossorial snakes. In Southeast Asia, the red-headed krait occurs in Malaysia, Thailand, and Sumatra, with a subspecies in Borneo. The venom potency is little-studied, as bites from this species are extremely rare.

Habitat:

Red-headed kraits inhabit the rain forests in mountain and hilly regions. They are hardly ever to be found in human habitats. The red-headed krait can be rarely spotted in Thailand, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Vietnam, western Malaysia, Pulau Tioman, and Indonesia (Borneo). The subspecies B. f. baluensis is found in Malaysia (East Malaysia, Sabah).