Wildlifeof Bhutan
Greater Black Krait
Cobras, Kraits & Sea Snakes
Photo: (c) Rejoice Gassah, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC-BY (May be cropped or resized)
Bungarus niger
Basic stats
Diet
Mostly snakes and small mammals; occasionally lizards, frogs and fish
Habitat
Mangrove swamps to villages to montane forest up to 1,500m in the Himalayan foothills
Range
North-east and north India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh
Size
Maximum about 1.3m; adults average about 0.8m
The greater black krait is a venomous snake endemic to South Asia. It is medium in length, slender and triangular in cross-section, with a short, pointed tail. It is shiny black above, with a creamy-white belly with black edges that increase towards the rear. The scales are smooth and the eyes black. It can grow to about 1.3m, though adults average about 0.8m (Wikipedia, general species account).
It lives in a wide range of habitats, from mangrove swamps to inhabited villages to montane forest up to 1,500m in the Himalayan foothills. It is nocturnal and terrestrial, with an inoffensive disposition, and preys mostly on snakes and small mammals and occasionally lizards, frogs and fish. It is found in north-east and north India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh.
Quick answers
- What does the Greater Black Krait eat?
- Mostly snakes and small mammals; occasionally lizards, frogs and fish
- What habitat does the Greater Black Krait live in?
- Mangrove swamps to villages to montane forest up to 1,500m in the Himalayan foothills
- Where is the Greater Black Krait found?
- North-east and north India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh
- How big is the Greater Black Krait?
- Maximum about 1.3m; adults average about 0.8m