How to identify the Indian krait snake: Everything you need to know about its appearance and behaviour

Kraits are some of the most poisonous snakes, which inhabit many parts of South and Southeast Asia and cause considerable mortality rates in areas where they live. Despite being very dangerous and deadly, kraits are commonly misidentified due to their shyness and nocturnal habits. To stay safe in the event that one encounters a krait, it is critical to understand how such a snake can be identified.It takes keen consideration of different characteristics in order to identify a krait and not just focusing on a single characteristic, such as colour or size. Many factors, including its physical characteristics, behaviour, habitat, and activity, come together to help one identify a krait. Because kraits are usually mistaken for other non-poisonous snakes, it is essential to have knowledge and take precautions to avoid dangers that come with this kind of situation.A krait is most likely to be identified when a snake has a slender, smooth, and glossy body, often with black and white or black and yellow banding. It has a short, flat head that blends into the neck, round pupils, and a calm, non-aggressive behaviour when disturbed. It is usually active at night and commonly found in rural or semi-rural environments.The physical characteristic that enables the identification of a krait is its physical shape. A krait is a moderately sized reptile, ranging from three to five feet long, with the banded krait having a more extensive body size than other krait snakes. A krait has a thin and smooth body that is slightly triangular in shape, thus making it stiff and hard, unlike other non-poisonous snakes.Their scales are very smooth and glossy, making their body reflect light. The smoothness of the scales is among the easiest physical characteristics to identify when handling a krait.Colour pattern is among the most frequently used means in the identification of kraits. However, no single trait must be used as a sole identifier because it can lead to serious mistakes. For instance, many krait species possess conspicuous black and white banding or black and yellow banding. In particular, the banded krait possesses yellow and black rings that make its recognition easier.Conversely, the Indian krait has a deep blue-black colouration with faint white crossbands. Some kraits present unique combinations of colours; for instance, the red-headed krait has a bright red head and tail with a black body. Nevertheless, caution must always be exercised when identifying kraits using their colour because there are many other snakes with similar banding patterns that are not venomous.The other significant aspect of the appearance of kraits lies in their head. The head of the snake is short and flat, blending very well with its neck such that it becomes hard to determine where the head stops and the body starts. This should be compared with vipers whose heads are wide and triangular.They have tiny eyes with round pupils. The faces are typically simple and do not have much in terms of features. There may be distinctive features on their heads although these may only be observable under certain conditions like darkness and motion.Behaviour is often the most reliable way to identify a krait in the wild. Kraits are primarily nocturnal, meaning they are active at night and remain hidden during the day. They typically emerge after sunset to hunt and move slowly along the ground.During the daytime, they are usually very inactive and hide in burrows, under debris, inside termite mounds, or even within human homes. When disturbed, kraits often remain unusually calm. Instead of striking immediately, they may stay still or attempt to escape quietly.A key defensive behaviour is coiling tightly with the head hidden underneath the body. Unlike cobras, they do not usually raise their head or spread a hood when threatened.Kraits are widely distributed across India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and many parts of Southeast Asia. They are highly adaptable and can survive in forests, grasslands, farmland, and even areas close to human settlements.They are commonly found near villages and agricultural fields because these areas provide abundant food sources, especially rodents. They may also be found near water channels, canals, and irrigation systems. If a snake is encountered at night in such environments and matches other physical characteristics, there is a higher chance that it may be a krait.The bites from these creatures are very hard to spot as well since there is not much in terms of pain and swelling. In many cases, people who have been bitten do not even know about the danger as they fail to identify the situation on time.In addition, the venom from these creatures affects the nervous system and causes several symptoms, such as abdominal pain, eye drooping, muscle paralysis, and breathing issues. As the toxin travels throughout the body, it can result in full paralysis.As mentioned above, the symptoms start showing themselves gradually; therefore, people can be unaware of what is happening to their bodies.