Bungarus kraits are moderate to large-sized (to 2 m), highly venomous elapids distributed from Pakistan eastward through southern Asia to Indonesia. Kraits are easily distinguished from other terrestrial elapids by (among other traits) a middorsal row of enlarged, hexagonal scales. Twelve species of Bungarus were recognized by Slowinski (1994): B. andamanensis, B. bungaroides, B.caeruleus, B. candidus, B. ceylonicus, B. fasciatus, B. flaviceps, B. lividus, B. magnimaculatus, B. multicinctus, B. niger, and B. sindanu. A form of Bungarus multicinctus, B. m. wanghaotingi, has sometimes been recognized as a distinct species, B. wanghaotingi (e.g., Leviton et al. 2003).
Leviton et al. 2003 provided a technical description of B. wanghaotingi: Dorsal scales in 15 longitudinal rows at midbody; subcaudal scutes undivided throughout; middorsal rows of scales (vertebrals) strongly enlarged, as broad or broader than long; tail tapering, terminating in a point. Ventrals 209-228, subcaudals 44-54. Belly uniformly white; above, 20-31 light crossbars (narrower than black crossbars), 7-11 white crossbars on tail. Total length 1100 mm, tail 145 mm.
In Myanmar, Bungarus wanghaotingi is found in Kachin State, Rakhine State, Sagaing Division, and possibly the Yangon (Rangoon) area. It also occurs in China (Yunnan). This species has been found in a wide range of habitats, from bamboo stands in coastal rainforest to streams in indaing (dipterocarp) forest (moist deciduous) to subtropical forests in Kachin State. Individuals have been encountered mainly in degraded habitats near villages and along roads. It has been found at low to mid range elevations up to at least 900 m. It is active at dusk and at night. This species is closely related to, but geographically distinct from, typical B. multicinctus. It can be distinguished from B. multicinctus by the lower number of light crossbars on its body and tail (31-40 on the body and 9-17 on the tail in B. multicinctus; 20-31 on the body and 7-11 on the tail in B. wanghaotingi. Leviton et al. (2003) suggest that the B. multicinctus - wanghaotingi complex deserves further study and likely includes several distinct species.
(Leviton et al. 2003 and references therein)
