Bungarus flaviceps
Silhouette: Michael Scroggie, from original photograph by Gary M. Stolz, USFWS (original photograph in public domain). · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
The red-headed krait (Bungarus flaviceps) is a large and highly venomous elapid snake with dramatic coloration. The red-headed krait can grow to a length of up to 2.1 metres (7 ft). It lives in lowland rain forest, including those on islands, but it is considered uncommon. It feeds primarily on specific snakes, probably semiaquatic and fossorial snakes. In Southeast Asia, the red-headed krait occurs in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia (Sumatra), with a subspecies in Borneo. The venom potency is little-studied, as bites from this species are extremely rare.
The species presents a very striking and distinctive coloration – namely a bright red head and tail with a black body that includes a low-lateral narrow bluish white stripe. Having large, smooth scales, the general appearance of the red-headed krait is glossy and attractive. Captives will generally refuse to strike until they have been subjected to prolonged teasing. The average length of a red-headed krait is 4 to 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m), with a maximum of 7 feet (2.1 m). They have short, hollow fangs on their maxillary bones, with inlets at the bases and outlets near their tips. The venom is ducted to... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kinabalu Park | 🇲🇾 Malaysia | |
| 2 | Khao Sok National Park | 🇹🇭 Thailand | |
| 3 | Gunung Leuser National Park | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snake Farm of Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
No species of the same family or order lives in Khao Sok National Park, so these are its closest relatives here: other reptiles.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Red-headed Krait sighting in Khao Sok National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 36th most-seen of the 44 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March and December
In those months about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Red-headed Krait in Khao Sok National Park on a given day, against under 5% in February and April–October, the lowest months. Those are among Khao Sok National Park's driest months, with about 90 mm of rain a month against 280 mm in October.
Between 2 and 5 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Red-headed Krait sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is most active around dawn and dusk.
2nd of 3
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Red-headed Krait sightings, Khao Sok National Park ranks 2nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Kinabalu Park (Malaysia, about 30%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Red-headed Krait is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Khao Sok National Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
