In India Banded Krait Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider, 1801) commonly occurs in north-eastern India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura) but becomes lesser towards north-west, west, south and south-east (Uttarakhand in north-west; Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in central India; Maharashtra in west; Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu in south and Andhra Pradesh and Odisha in south-east). In Jharkhand it was recorded from Bokaro and Hazaribagh districts but presently it has been found in Ranchi district also, preying on Checkered Keel-back Snake which is a new record and adds to its distribution in the state. In present communication its synonymy, diagnostic features, altitudinal range, distribution, habitat, food & feeding, breeding, nature & behaviour, bite, venom & treatment, conservation status, threats and preying on Checkered Keel-back Snake are provided.

New record of Banded Krait from Ranchi with its preying on Checkered Keel-back Snake.

During present study, it was sighted preying on Checkered Keel-back Snake/Dendu Samp (Fowlea piscator, Schneider, 1799) at Ormanjhi in Ranchi district which is the first record of its preying on said snake from the area. Much before, Primrose (1899) also reported it feeding on this snake but may be elsewhere. It engulfs the prey from head side (as shown in figure), after rendering inactive by its venom.

Husain, A. (2020). New Record of Banded Krait Bungarus Fasciatus (Schneider, 1801) from Ranchi (Jharkhand) with its Preying on Checkered Keel-Back Snake. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 12(1): 29-32.