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i caught this snake in the south eastern part of afghanistan by the pakistan border. i was thought that it was a krait and was told that it was by many people over there( locals ). i posted it on another forum and i was told that it may not be one because it is not black. if you could help me idintify this snake or confirm that it is a Bungarus caeruleus that would be very great, thanks.

Unless I'm completely mistaken, I believe your i.d. is correct. Not only is a B. caeruleus, but it appears you ran across a hypomelanistic version. Great find. Be cautious - a krait that size would have no problems putting you under ground if it nailed you.
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Chance Duncan
www.rvexotics.com

Every B. caeruleus I have seen looked just like that. I really think people throw around elaborate morph names way too much in this hobby.

There is nothing elaborate about the term hypomelanistic, as it just means a reduction in the melanin pigment. Not quite in the same ballpark as "super hypo carrot tail triple het snow axananery yadda yadda yadda," but I get your meaning. Nor is hypomelanism a very uncommon genetic anomaly even in wild populations, as it is not a major detriment to traditional cryptic coloration. My statement was based on pictures such as these, which I graciously stole from Google images:

I'm not sure about the ones you've seen, but those certainly don't look the same. And based on the way those look, I'd say the one originally pictured here qualifies as hypomelanistic.
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Chance Duncan
www.rvexotics.com

I second Chance's post, well, aside from the hypo part. It does infact look like B. caeruleus to me. The banding and coloration is pretty text book for specimens I have seen in USA collections and the head is a dead ringer for Bungarus.

As was mentioned, dont get bit! Bungarus are right up there as the worst snakes in the world to get nailed by!! AV dosent work great on their bites and there is a very high mortality rate with this species.

Thanks for sharing!

Take care,

Jeremy

I have heard that with these you have to get bit in the right place like the hand or bare ankle because their fangs are too small. but believe me, i was careful. i took this picture back when i was over there in 05'.

and i think the morph thing is good and bad for the hobby, but way more good than bad. thanks for the reply. and if you think there fun in cages, you need to go see them in their habitat. CRAZY!

>>I have heard that with these you have to get bit in the right place like the hand or bare ankle because their fangs are too small.

Not something to bank on, a misconception to which the late Dr. Joseph Slowinski could attest. He was bitten by a misidentified juvenile many banded krait, Bungarus multicinctus, that was only around 12" in length. Even it had the full capability to deliver a lethal bite, and so it did. Like sea snakes and coral snakes, people tend to greatly underestimate the potential of these obscure elapids. Fortunately, it sounds like you took the proper precautions.

Another story that comes to mind regarding krait envenomation was something that was once on an Animal Planet or Discovery special. A man, the name of whom I can't remember, was recounting his bite from a krait (maybe Haast? not sure). He said the pain was incredibly intense and flooded his entire body. It nearly put him out of his mind, allowing him to only see in various shades of pastel colors. It felt like the roots of his teeth were exposed bare and every breath was like a cold splash of water on them. When the nurse would pull back the covers, it felt like his skin was being torn off with them.

I wish I could remember what show that was (anyone remember?) - as it was the most psychedelic recounting of an envenomation I've ever heard, hence why it has stuck in my mind so well. Just goes to show that not all elapid bites result in local tingling and numbness followed by difficulty breathing. Snakes with complex neurotoxins like kraits can also play havoc with the nerve receptors throughout the body. After all, pain is just a signal being sent from the nerves to the brain. Trip those signals and it doesn't matter if something is actually hurting you - your brain will be convinced it is.
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Chance Duncan
www.rvexotics.com

www.cobras.org/article.htm

Yup, it was Haast... and it was this species in question I believe (unless things have changed up taxonomically since then).

Taken from the above linked website:
``I felt like the skin had been stripped from my body, like every nerve in my teeth was exposed, like my hair was being ripped out of my head.''

Wow, I'm surprised I remembered that as well as I did. I can only imagine the kind of experience that must have been, especially in the 1950s when snake bite treatment was less than stellar, to say the least. Brave man, that Haast....
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Chance Duncan
www.rvexotics.com

This is a photo of a Krait I have had for about six years. It is quite a bit darker than the snake reagorfu posted a picture of. It is probably what most look like. Thanks for posting the picture of the lighter snake. Jud McClanahan