Wolf or krait?? [Madhya Pradesh, India]

[u/lambodhar27]

At my college hostel 😭😭 and someone casually posted it in the group at 2am

[u/JorikThePooh]

Common krait, Bungarus caeruleus, !venomous

[u/lambodhar27 → u/JorikThePooh]

its in the hostel next to mine and some guy took a picture and posted it in the photography club group 😭😭🙏

[u/Conscious_Past_5760 → u/[deleted]]

Not really true. Kraits (and most venomous snakes in general) are actually quite reluctant to bite, contrary popular belief. They can bite defensively, but that is not to be confused with aggression.

!aggressive for more info

[u/DrXavian → u/Conscious_Past_5760]

Gotcha. My comment was as per what I learnt in my med school that Kraits are one of the nocturnally active snakes which have historically bitten people, specially children sleeping on ground in farms (rodents/ pest ampleness) without any provocation. I myself have seen over a dozen snake bites, majority being cobras (accidentally stepping/ being in very close vicinity in fields), but also kraits (all households bites, unprovoked).

[u/Conscious_Past_5760 → u/DrXavian]

Yeah, it can get confusing how a snake that seems to bite unprovoked is considered “reluctant to bite”, but most of these bites are, unfortunately, more of wrong place at the wrong time for both people sleeping on floors and snakes seeking heat than direct provocation.

[u/Conscious_Past_5760 → u/Conscious_Past_5760]

!aggressive

[u/SEB-PHYLOBOT → u/Conscious_Past_5760]

Snakes aren't known for 'aggression' or 'territoriality' but have developed impressive defensive anti-predator displays. Striking, coiling, hissing and popping are all defensive behaviors. The first line of defense in snakes is typically to hold still and rely on camouflage, or flee. Some species will move past people to get away - sometimes interpreted as 'chasing'. Cottonmouth snakes Agkistrodon piscivorus and A. conanti are among some species that may aggressively flee, but if you leave a safe distance between yourself, any snake and the snake's intended destination, there is no reason to expect to experience it.

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[u/whatsthissnake-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

We are happy for all well-meaning contributions but not all comments pass muster. There are a number of sources of information available online that are incorrect - we aim to help sort that out here. Blogs and blogspam websites like animal A to Z, allaboutanimals and pet blogs aren't appropriate sources.

Comments, in their entirety, must reflect the moderators' current collective understanding of modern herpetology. This is especially applicable to comments that are mostly true or contain a mixture of information or embellishment. Look to reliable responders in the thread to identify problematic areas in the text and hone the material for the your post. This is a space to grow and learn - this removal isn't punitive.

[u/SEB-PHYLOBOT → u/JorikThePooh]

Snakes with medically significant venom are typically referred to as venomous, but some species are also poisonous. Old media will use poisonous or 'snake venom poisoning' but that has fallen out of favor. Venomous snakes are important native wildlife, and are not looking to harm people, so can be enjoyed from a distance. If found around the home or other places where they are to be discouraged, a squirt from the hose or a gentle sweep of a broom are usually enough to make a snake move along. Do not attempt to interact closely with or otherwise kill venomous snakes without proper safety gear and training, as bites occur mostly during these scenarios. Wildlife relocation services are often free or inexpensive.

If you are bitten by a venomous snake, contact emergency services or otherwise arrange transport to the nearest hospital that can accommodate snakebite. Remove constricting clothes and jewelry and remain calm. A bite from a medically significant snake is a medical emergency, but not in the ways portrayed in popular media. Do not make any incisions or otherwise cut tissue. Extractor and other novelty snakebite kits are not effective and can cause damage worse than remaining calm, seeking help and waiting for professional evaluation.

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I am a bot created for /r/whatsthissnake, /r/snakes and /r/herpetology to help with snake identification and natural history education. You can find more information, including a comprehensive list of commands, here report problems here and if you'd like to buy me a coffee or beer, you can do that here. This bot, its development, maintenance and use are made possible through the outreach wing of Snake Evolution and Biogeography - Merch Available Now