Ceylon Krait

The Ceylon krait, locally called mudu karawalaa, is a venomous elapid endemic to Sri Lanka. It is small and slender, averaging 75 cm as an adult with 90 cm the upper limit, and hatchlings measure about 25 cm. The skin is black crossed by thin white bands. It has an extraordinarily long lung, which it inflates when angry (Wikipedia, general species account).

The species is mainly found in the wet zone at elevations up to 1,700 m and only infrequently in the dry zone. It occurs in forest as well as in gardens and plantations. It is nocturnal and sluggish by day, and feeds mainly on small mammals, frogs and other snakes. It is oviparous, laying cylindrical, round-ended eggs about 30 by 17 mm. Nationally Vulnerable (Sri Lanka National Red List 2012).