Elapidae
Ceylon Krait
VenomousBungarus ceylonicus
The Ceylon Krait (Bungarus ceylonicus) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 2 countries.
If you are bitten
This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Family
- Elapidae
- Danger
- high
About the Ceylon Krait
Bungarus ceylonicus, the Ceylon krait or Sri Lankan krait, is a species of venomous elapid snake which is endemic to the island Sri Lanka, locally known as මුදු කරවලා (mudu karawalaa).
Description
The Sri Lankan krait is small and slender. On hatching, the length of the snake is about 250 mm (9.8 in). The average adult length for this species is 75 cm (29+1⁄2 in) with 90 cm (35+1⁄2 in) being the upper limit.
Its black skin is crossed with thin white transverse bands. It has an extraordinarily long lung which it inflates when angry.
Distribution and habitat
The species is principally present in the wet zone of Sri Lanka at elevations up to 1,700 m, with infrequent presence in the dry zone, and occurs in forest habitats as well as gardens and plantations.
Ecology
The species is nocturnal, and sluggish by day. Its diet consists mainly of small mammals, frogs and other snakes. The krait is oviparous, laying cylindrical eggs with rounded ends that measure 30 mm x 17 mm.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Ceylon Krait
- Is the Ceylon Krait venomous?
- Yes. The Ceylon Krait (Bungarus ceylonicus) is venomous and belongs to the Elapidae family (cobra, mamba, coral or sea snake). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.
- Is the Ceylon Krait poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Ceylon Krait is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Ceylon Krait dangerous?
- This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.
- Where does the Ceylon Krait live?
- The Ceylon Krait has verified records in 2 countries, including Sri Lanka, India. See the distribution section below for its full range.
If you are bitten by the Ceylon Krait
Do
- Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
- Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
- Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
- Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
- Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
- Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
Do not
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
- Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.
First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.
Where it is found
More Elapidae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
Keep learning
- Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
- Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.