Lesser Black Krait
Bungarus niger
A glossy black krait of the eastern Indian subcontinent and Himalayan foothills, prone to entering rural dwellings at night.
- Adult length
- 0.9-1.3 m (3-4.3 ft)
- Range
- South Asia (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar)
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Overview
The Lesser Black Krait is a medium-sized elapid found across parts of northeastern India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and neighboring regions.
It is nocturnal and often enters human dwellings in rural areas in search of prey, which increases the risk of chance encounters, especially at night.
How to identify it
- Uniform glossy black to dark bluish-black body in adults, sometimes with faint pale flecking
- Smooth scales with a distinctive enlarged vertebral row of hexagonal scales running down the spine
- Cylindrical body with a short tail and a head barely wider than the neck
- Round pupils, though rarely visible given its nocturnal habits
- Juveniles may show more visible thin white crossbands than adults
Habitat & range
Found in a range of lowland and foothill habitats including agricultural land, forest edges, and villages across northeastern India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and parts of Myanmar.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Strictly nocturnal, becoming active after dusk to hunt other snakes and small vertebrates. By day it hides in burrows, termite mounds, or under debris. Lays eggs.
Frequently asked questions
When is it most active?
It is strictly nocturnal, hunting at night and remaining hidden during the day.
What does it eat?
Mainly other snakes, along with small mammals and lizards.
Lesser Black Krait guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Lesser Black Krait.
