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Unusual Krait in Dudhwa Prompts Calls for Further Study
A snake called a krait was found near Dudhwa.
It looked different because its colour was faded and its usual bands were missing.
A local rescuer first thought it was a common krait.
Experts said it might instead be a lesser black krait.
One scientist explained that snakes can change colour and patterns as they grow older.
The experts do not yet know exactly which species it is.
They want to study its body features and genes.
The discovery may show that Dudhwa has more wildlife variety than previously documented.
A krait rescued in Dudhwa had faded colouration and lacked its typical ringbands.
The snake was rescued from a house in Sumernagar village on August 16.
Experts are assessing whether it is a common krait or lesser black krait.
Researchers said age-related colour changes could explain the snake’s unusual appearance.
Further morphological and genetic studies may clarify the snake’s identity and variation.
- Who
- A local rescuer, Dudhwa wildlife officials, and wildlife experts examined the unusual krait.
- What
- A krait with faded colouration and missing ringbands was found and is undergoing species assessment.
- Where
- The snake was found in a house in Sumernagar village, under the Sampurnanagar forest range in the Dudhwa region of Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh.
- When
- It was rescued on August 16; the report was issued on September 11.
- Why
- Experts want to determine whether it is a common krait or lesser black krait and whether its appearance reflects natural variation or another colour aberration.
Common Krait Interpretation
Lesser Black Krait Interpretation
Species identification
Common Krait Interpretation
The local rescuer initially described the snake as a common krait, and experts said further studies are needed before changing that identification.
Lesser Black Krait Interpretation
Colour and pattern differences led experts to consider the lesser black krait, which Dudhwa officials said is not generally found in the region.
Cause of unusual appearance
Common Krait Interpretation
The snake’s faded colouration and missing bands could represent natural variation within the common krait species.
Lesser Black Krait Interpretation
The unusual appearance may indicate a lesser black krait or another colour aberration; genetic and morphological testing is needed to distinguish these possibilities.
Key facts
- Rescue date
- August 16
- Location
- Sumernagar village, Sampurnanagar forest range, Dudhwa region
- Initial identification
- Common krait (Bungarus caeruleus)
- Alternative identification
- Lesser black krait
- Distinctive features
- Faded colouration and absent ringbands
- Recommended studies
- Further morphological and genetic research
- Potential significance
- The finding may reflect Dudhwa’s rich biodiversity and ecology
Quotes
Vipul Maurya
Senior biologist at the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun
“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.”
theprint.in
“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.”
theprint.in
Sources
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