Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), Sep 11 (PTI) A krait with faded colouration and a lack of ringbands, which are typical of the snake species, found in the Dudhwa region here has prompted wildlife experts to call for further morphological and genetic studies to determine the cause of its distinctive appearance.
The distinctive krait was recently rescued from a house in Sumernagar village under the Sampurnanagar forest range on August 16 by a local snake rescuer, Nishan Singh, who initially described it as a common krait (Bungarus Caeruleus). However, the variation in colour and pattern led experts to consider the lesser black krait species for its identification.
The rescuer documented the reptile and consulted Dudhwa biologists and veterinary experts.
Dudhwa veterinarian Dr Daya Shankar, who examined the snake, described the finding as unusual, saying it was the first such species he had encountered in the area with such faded colouration and absent ringbands.
H Rajamohan, field director, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, told PTI: “The rescued snake was a rare one in the Dudhwa landscape, and indications are that it could be a lesser black krait, which is not generally found in the Terai region of Dudhwa. Eminent herpetologists would be approached for further study, as it endorses the rich biodiversity and ecology of Dudhwa, where the rare species have secured protection and conservation.” Senior biologist Vipul Maurya of Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, told PTI that the observation was interesting and warranted further research, particularly as the Terai region, including Dudhwa, is known for its rich snake diversity.
“The fading or disappearance of bands in the krait can be associated with changes in colour and pattern with age, a phenomenon known as ontogenetic colour pattern shift,” Maurya said.
The present observation, he said, needs further morphological and genetic studies, so as to establish if it was a common krait or lesser black krait and whether the unusual appearance represented natural variation or another colour aberration. PTI COR NAV PRK
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