Krait
Krait (shankhini) poisonous elapid snakes related to the cobras. There are five species of kraits in Bangladesh out of which only two are widely known. One of these is the Banded Krait (Shankhini/Shakini Shap), Bungarus fasciatus. It is one of the most colourful snakes having big black head, broad black and yellow bands over the entire body; less than 2 m in length, lives in the countryside and forests, and feeds mostly on other poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. It is active by night.
Common Krait (Kal Keotey), B. caeruleus is possibly the most deadly snake in the country; body greyish black without any conspicuous mark; measures less than 2 m and prefers to hide under trash piles of logs and bricks; feeds on other snakes and smaller animals. Skins of krait have high market value. [Ali Reza Khan]
