First record of Wall’s Krait Bungarus walli Wall, 1907 (Reptilia: Squamata: Elapidae) from Assam, and diagnostic keys to the kraits of India

Authors

  • Bijay Basfore Department of Zoology, Cotton University, Panbazar, Guwahati 781001, Assam, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3595-5653
  • Abhi Medhi Ozapara, Azara, Near- Sabhaghar, Guwahati, Assam 781015, India.
  • Nazrul Islam Wildlife Trust of India, F-13, Sector-8, Noida (National Capital Region), Uttar Pradesh 201301, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1362-6948
  • Rathin Barman Wildlife Trust of India, F-13, Sector-8, Noida (National Capital Region), Uttar Pradesh 201301, India.
  • Madhurima Das Help Earth, 16 Raghunath Choudhury Path, Lachitnagar, Guwahati, Assam 781007, India & Department of Zoology, Assam Don Bosco University, Sonapur, Assam 782402, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6260-4227
  • Anjana Singha Naorem Department of Zoology, Cotton University, Panbazar, Guwahati 781001, Assam, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7937-689X
  • Jayaditya Purkayastha Help Earth, 16 Raghunath Choudhury Path, Lachitnagar, Guwahati, Assam 781007, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3236-156X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.10206.18.4.28729-28733

Keywords:

Assam, herpetofauna, Kokrajhra, Raimona National Park, range extension

Abstract

We report the occurrence of Bungarus walli Wall, 1907, for the first time from Northeast India, based on morphological and meristic examination of an uncollected specimen encountered during a herpetofaunal survey in Raimona National Park, Assam. Diagnostic characters were compared with published descriptions, and an identification key to the kraits of Northeast India is provided. This finding is the addition of the fifth krait species from Assam. The discovery is of considerable biogeographic and conservation importance, as it fills a major distributional gap and contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the region’s krait diversity. Documenting B. walli in Assam further underscores the significance of systematic surveys in newly declared protected areas, which may reveal additional range extensions and novel records crucial for future biodiversity assessments and conservation planning.

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Published

26-04-2026

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 4 (2026)

Section

Notes

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Copyright (c) 2026 Bijay Basfore, Abhi Medhi, Nazrul Islam, Rathin Barman, Madhurima Das, Anjana Singha Naorem, Jayaditya Purkayastha

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