SUMMARY

• VENOM: Highly Toxic

• PREVALENCE: Uncommon

• ACTIVE PERIOD: Active at night

• KEY ID FEATURES: Bright yellow head retail with black and white bands, black body with white stripe down the spine, keeled body, hexagonal vertebral scales

• BEHAVIOR: Hunts on the ground at night, moves slow but capable of strikes if surprised, though generally highly disinclined to bite, generally will flee

• SIZE: Large - ~2M

VENOM REVIEW*

• Highly potent neurotoxin

GALLERY

IMPORTANT: Many snakes have significant variance in coloration and pattern even within the same species. There can also be extreme differences in appearance from juveniles to adults so it is important to never assume you have properly identified a snake.

DESCRIPTION

Bright yellow head (orange as juveniles/subadults), highly distinct red tail with black and white bands. Heavily keeled body, large hexagonal vetebral scales with white vertebral stripe. Undivided anal plate, subcaudals start as a single row and the become split, a relatively unique feature. Relatively heavy bodied for the genus and can reach lengths in excess of 2 meters.

BEHAVIOR

Active at night and mainly hunts other snakes though also known to opportunistically eat other small mammals and herpetofauna. Generally docile when approached they are capable of striking from multiple directions and will normally do so without taking much of a defensive stance which can be surprising, though this particular subspecies is considered extremely reluctant to bite. Normally slow and deliberate in their movement they are capable of moving quickly if fleeing. This species is also known to have a jaw capable of twisting sharply even when held behind the head increasing the risk of a bite if handled. As one of the most toxic snakes in Asia the Kinabalu red-headed Krait should never be interfered with.

HABITAT

The Kinabalu yellow-headed Krait is a terrestrial species often hunting in water gutters, by trail sides and by abandoned structures in forested areas, often adjacent to or near by streams or other water sources. A less common encounter for most given its nocturnal nature, it is possible to bump into one on the trail and if so they should be give a wide berth and left alone.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

NO SNAKE SHOULD EVER BE HANDLED BY ANYONE BUT EXPERTS: The Kinabalu yellow-headed krait can be confused with the also venomous blue coral snake as juveniles. It’s size and coloration are the best differentiators when mature. This is a highly toxic species and should not be interfered with.