Bungarus flaviceps
Silhouette: Michael Scroggie, from original photograph by Gary M. Stolz, USFWS (original photograph in public domain). · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~60% in a week ~90%
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 |
Possible
About 30% of wildlife watchers report a Red-headed Krait sighting in Kinabalu Park on a given day, based on 27 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 20th most-seen of the 69 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 60%, and over a week to about 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.
January and February
In those months about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Red-headed Krait in Kinabalu Park on a given day, against under 5% in May and September–October, the lowest months.
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.
Yes
Of the 3 parks where we can rate Red-headed Krait sightings, Kinabalu Park has the highest daily chance: about 30%. Next come Khao Sok National Park (Thailand, about 10%) and Gunung Leuser National Park (Indonesia, about 10%).
Same family: Elapidae
The closest relatives of the Red-headed Krait that you can see in Kinabalu Park (family Elapidae, Elapid Snakes) are Striped Coral Snake (about 20%) and Blue Malaysian Coral Snake (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Red-headed Krait is recorded against all the reptiles logged in Kinabalu Park (27 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.
