Bungarus multicinctus
Encyclopedia
The Many-banded krait also known as the Taiwanese krait or the Chinese krait, is a species
of the genus Bungarus
found predominantly in mainland China
and Taiwan
.
, mainland China
, Burma, Laos
and Northern Vietnam
. This species can be found in elevations up to about 1300 metres (4,265.1 ft), though they are more commonly found in low areas, especially in shrubland, woodland
, agricultural fields and mangroves.
or even smaller members of its own species), as well as rodents, eels, frogs and occasionally lizards.
This species is usually timid in nature, especially in the hours of daylight, but is more prone to bite at night-time if provoked or disturbed. Individuals often thrash wildly when caught.
s (known as α-bungarotoxins and β-bungarotoxin
s, among others). The average venom yield from specimens kept on snake farms is about 4.6 mg
—18.4 mg
per bite. The venom is highly toxic with LD50
values of 0.09 mg/kg—0.108 mg/kg SC, 0.113 mg/kg IV
and 0.08 mg/kg IP in mice
. This is the fourth most venomous snake
in the world (Ernst and Zug et al. 1996).
The local symptoms of victims bitten by the Many-banded krait are usually neither serious swelling nor pain, the victims merely feel slightly itchy and numb. Systemic symptoms occur, in general, one to four hours after being bitten by this snake. Symptoms may include discomfort in the chest, general ache, weak feeling in limbs, ataxia, glossolysis, loss of voice, swallowing paralysis, tunnel vision, and difficult breathing. In case of serious bite, suppression of breathing may occur, leading to death.
The untreated mortality rate caused by the bites of this species is reported to be at least 50%. Even with antivenom treatment, the rate is 50%.
In 2001 a snake of this species was responsible for the death of Joseph Bruno Slowinski
.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of the genus Bungarus
Bungarus
Bungarus, commonly referred to as kraits , is a genus of venomous elapid snakes found in South and South-East Asia. There are 12 species and 5 subspecies recognized.- Distribution :...
found predominantly in mainland China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
.
Geographic range and habitat
It is found in TaiwanTaiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, mainland China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Burma, Laos
Laos
Laos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
and Northern Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. This species can be found in elevations up to about 1300 metres (4,265.1 ft), though they are more commonly found in low areas, especially in shrubland, woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
, agricultural fields and mangroves.
Description
The Many-banded krait is a medium to large-sized snake, averaging about 1 to 1.5 m (3.3 to 4.9 ft) in length with a maximum of 1.85 metres (6.1 ft). This snake has black with alternating and clear-cut black and white crossbands throughout the body, with the black bands being wider than the white bands. The body has a high vertebral ridge. Juveniles usually have a white mark on their heads.Scalation
Dorsal scales in 15 rows; ventral scales 200-231 in males, 198-227 in females; tail short and tapering; subcaudal scales single (undivided), 43-54 in males, 37-55 in females.Behaviour
The snake is nocturnal. In the daytime it hides under stones, or in holes. The snake appears from April and retreats into hibernation in November. The many-banded krait usually feeds on other snakes (for example the water snakeWater snake
Different snakes are called water snakes. Most are colubrids. "Water snake" is also sometimes used as a descriptive term for any snakes that spend a significant time in or near fresh water, such as any species belonging to the family Acrochordidae...
or even smaller members of its own species), as well as rodents, eels, frogs and occasionally lizards.
This species is usually timid in nature, especially in the hours of daylight, but is more prone to bite at night-time if provoked or disturbed. Individuals often thrash wildly when caught.
Reproduction
These snakes are oviparous. Females deposit 3 to 15 (maximum 20) eggs in around the month of June. Eggs usually hatch about 1 month and a half. Juveniles are usually 0.2—0.27 cm in length.Venom
The venom of the many-banded krait consists primarily of neurotoxinNeurotoxin
A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells , usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue...
s (known as α-bungarotoxins and β-bungarotoxin
Beta-Bungarotoxin
β-Bungarotoxin is a form of bungarotoxin that is fairly common in Krait venoms.The target of this neurotoxin is at the presynaptic terminal, where it causes release of acetylcholine and subsequent exhaustion of acetylcholine stores in the nerve terminal, by binding to proteins, most commonly actin...
s, among others). The average venom yield from specimens kept on snake farms is about 4.6 mg
Mg
MG, M.G., M-G and variants may refer to:Business* MG Cars , a British automobile manufacturer, now part of SAIC* Champion Air , an American charter airline with IATA code MGEducation...
—18.4 mg
Mg
MG, M.G., M-G and variants may refer to:Business* MG Cars , a British automobile manufacturer, now part of SAIC* Champion Air , an American charter airline with IATA code MGEducation...
per bite. The venom is highly toxic with LD50
LD50
In toxicology, the median lethal dose, LD50 , LC50 or LCt50 of a toxin, radiation, or pathogen is the dose required to kill half the members of a tested population after a specified test duration...
values of 0.09 mg/kg—0.108 mg/kg SC, 0.113 mg/kg IV
Intravenous therapy
Intravenous therapy or IV therapy is the infusion of liquid substances directly into a vein. The word intravenous simply means "within a vein". Therapies administered intravenously are often called specialty pharmaceuticals...
and 0.08 mg/kg IP in mice
MICE
-Fiction:*Mice , alien species in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy*The Mice -Acronyms:* "Meetings, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions", facilities terminology for events...
. This is the fourth most venomous snake
Venomous snake
"Poisonous snake" redirects here. For true poisonous snakes, see Rhabdophis.Venomous snakes are snakes which have venom glands and specialized teeth for the injection of venom...
in the world (Ernst and Zug et al. 1996).
The local symptoms of victims bitten by the Many-banded krait are usually neither serious swelling nor pain, the victims merely feel slightly itchy and numb. Systemic symptoms occur, in general, one to four hours after being bitten by this snake. Symptoms may include discomfort in the chest, general ache, weak feeling in limbs, ataxia, glossolysis, loss of voice, swallowing paralysis, tunnel vision, and difficult breathing. In case of serious bite, suppression of breathing may occur, leading to death.
The untreated mortality rate caused by the bites of this species is reported to be at least 50%. Even with antivenom treatment, the rate is 50%.
In 2001 a snake of this species was responsible for the death of Joseph Bruno Slowinski
Joseph Bruno Slowinski
Joseph Bruno "Joe" Slowinski, Ph.D was an American herpetologist who worked extensively with elapid snakes.He was born on November 15, 1962 in New York City, New York...
.
