Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider, 1801)

Figueroa, Alex, Low, Martyn E. Y. & Lim, Kelvin K. P., 2023, Singapore’s herpetofauna: updated and annotated checklist, history, conservation, and distribution, Zootaxa 5287 (1), pp. 1-378 : 189-190

Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider, 1801) — Native.

Pseudoboa Fasciata Schneider, 1801: 283–284 . Syntypes (2): ZMB 2771–72 , by original designation. Type locality: “Indien” (= India); later restricted to “Mansoor Cottah, Bengal, India ” by Russell (1801: 53).

Banded Krait

( Figure 21F )

Singapore records.

Bungarus fasciatus —Peters, 1859: 271.— Dennys, 1880a: 3.— Blanford, 1881: 216.— Davison, 1892: 89, 92.— Flower, 1896: 893.— Flower, 1899: 689.—Ridley, 1899: 209.—Sworder, 1923: 71.— Sworder, 1924a: 19, 20 (Pulau Ayer Merbau).—Sworder, 1924b: 22 (Tanglin [= TF]).— Buddle, 1929: 21 (Sembawang Naval Base [= SML]).—Smith, 1930: 67 (“near Singapore town”).—D.S. Johnson, 1964: 27.—Sharma, 1973: 235.—F.L.K. Lim, 1984: 17.—F.L.K. Lim & M.T.-M. Lee, 1989: 115.— Gopalakrishnakone, 1990: 3.—K.K.P. Lim & L.M. Chou, 1990: 54.—F.L.K. Lim, 1991: 74.—D.S. Johnson, 1992: 38.—K.K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 1992: 86, 148.—L.M. Chou et al., 1994: 105.— David & Vogel, 1996: 144.— Manthey & Grossmann, 1997: 417.— Cox et al., 1998: 30.—Chan-ard et al., 1999: 37.—E.K. Chua, 2000: 118 (Pulau Ubin).— Iskandar & Colijn, 2001: 120.—K.P. Lim & F.L.K. Lim, 2002: 148.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2008: 115, 161.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2008: 166, 265 (Khatib Bongsu; Lim Chu Kang; Pulau Ubin; Pulau Tekong; Sungei Buloh [SBWR]).—P.K.L. Ng et al., 2008: 168.— Das, 2010: 313.— Chanhome et al., 2011: 315.— P.K.L. Ng et al., 2011: 302.—N. Baker & K.P. Lim, 2012: 115, 161.—de Chambrier et al., 2012: 45.— Das, 2012a: 89.—H.H. Tan, 2013: 2 (Pulau Ubin).—Wallach et al., 2014: 128.—Chan-ard et al., 2015: 250.—K.K.P. Lim et al., 2016: 184 (Pulau Tekong).— Ahsan & Rahman, 2017: 9907.— de Lang, 2017: 245.— Cox et al., 2018: 51.— Das, 2018: 105.—H.Y. Lim, 2019: 128–129 (Chek Jawa Wetlands [PU]).— Charlton, 2020: 224.

Bungarus fasciatus fasciatus — de Haas, 1950: 597.

“banded krait”—Mong & H.H. Tan, 2016: 266.

Remarks. Throughout its range, B. fasciatus inhabits a diverse range of habitats including montane areas (Stuebing et al. 2014). However, in Singapore, B. fasciatus appears restricted mainly to coastal habitats ( Baker & Lim 2012) with most observations coming from Pulau Ubin. Bungarus fasciatus was first reported from Singapore by Peters (1859) who listed a specimen at ZMB collected by Jagor. Subsequently, Blanford (1881) examined specimens at the Raffles Museum, and Davison (1892) noted an additional specimen that was mutilated and deposited at the Raffles Museum around that time. No other specimens were recorded until Sworder (1924a) observed one at Pulau Ayer Merbau, and mentioned Smith killed one near Tanglin in 1901 (Sworder 1924b). Shortly after, Buddle (1929) captured one at SNB and killed one near to town (Smith 1930). Bungarus fasciatus was then next reported 61 years later ( Table 2 ) by Lim (1991) who related how a specimen he received was caught in a fishing net along a riverbank. The only other three published observations include one photographed in mangroves at PT in May 2006 ( Lim et al. 2016), one crossing a road near mangroves at PU on 18 October 2012 (Tan 2013), and one seemingly foraging in mud lobster mounds on 4 August 2019 at PU (Lim 2019). Figure 21F illustrates one that was rescued from a contractor dormitory next to Ubin Fruit Orchard on PU on 12 January 2018 (I.S. Law pers. comm.). Lim et al. (2008) reported B. fasciatus from KBNP, LCK, PU, and SBWR, but did not provide any specific data, except for the LCK locality which was based on ZRC.2.4658 collected on 1 November 1999.

Occurrence. Known mainly from coastal areas in Lim Chu Kang, PU, and PT. Uncommon.

Singapore conservation status. Vulnerable.

Conservation priority. Highest.

IUCN conservation status. Least Concern [2013].

LKCNHM & NHMUK Museum specimens. Singapore (no locality) : ZRC.2.6384– ZRC.2.6385 (no date), ZRC.2.6387 (1986); Lim Chu Kang Road [ LKC]: ZRC.2.4658 (01-Nov-1999) .

Additional Singapore museum specimens. Singapore (no locality): NMW, ZMB; Jurong Road [= Tengah Forest]: BPBM.

Singapore localities. Khatib Bongsu Nature Park—Lim Chu Kang—Pulau Ayer Merbau*—Pulau Tekong—Pulau Ubin—Sembcorp Marine Ltd.*—Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve—Tyersall Forest*—Tengah Forest.

Genus Calliophis Gray, 1835 (3 species)

Calliophis Gray, 1835 [in 1832–1835]: pl. 86, fig. 1, caption (type species: Calliophis gracilis Gray, 1835 [in 1832–1835], by monotypy; gender masculine).

Figures

FIGURE 21. A) Xenochrophis vittatus, B) Sibynophis melanocephalus, C) Cylindrophis ruffus, D) Aipysurus eydouxii, E) Aipysurus eydouxii, F) Bungarus fasciatus, G) Calliophis bivirgatus, and H) Calliophis gracilis. Photographs by: Thio Hui Bing [A], Alex Figueroa [B], Nick Baker [C], Kelvin K.P. Lim [D], Ria Tan [E], Law Ing Sind [F], Mary-Ruth Low [G], and Evan S.H. Quah [H].