Material Examined : 7 specimens, including 2 adults, 3 sub-adults and 2 juveniles.

Description & Scalation : Body cylindrical. Head slightly broader than neck. Eye small, entirely black with round pupil;. Internasals shorter than prefrontal; no loreal. 1 preocular in contact with posterior nasal; 2 postoculars; temporals 1+2. Scales smooth, in 15:15:15 rows, vertebral scales strongly enlarged; supralabials 7 ( 2nd distinctly narrower than 3rd, 3rd and 4th in contact with the eye, 6th largest ); infralabials 7, first 3 touching the first pair of genials; ventrals 192–200; subcaudals 40-47 entire; terminal scute entire; tail thick, ends in a blunt point; anal entire.

Coloration : Glossy black or brownish above, often with blue iridescence; with 39-47 narrow yellow or white equidistant cross-bars on the body and 9-13 on tail, these bands widen towards the belly. No vertebral spots. Belly yellowish-cream, often with irregular small black or brown spots, distinct brownish spots under tail. Lip scales yellowish. Juveniles have very distinct equidistant yellow cross-bars on body and tail, also distinct or indistinct ^ shape marking in between head and neck ( immediately after parietal shields ).

Natural History : Nocturnal in habits. Mostly active after rains. Mainly found in paddy fields, low bushes ( on mountains as well as near by seas and mangroves ), commonly seen on roads, after rains, few individuals were seen on and near termite mounds. Common in Andamans, extremly common in Little Andamans, 6 to 8 specimens including juveniles and sub-adults were observed at about 2030 hrs in every field session in the month of June. Adult specimens are rare, according to local inhabitants adults are seen inside freshwater streams and they feed on water snakes and fish. If alarmed it slightly flattens body, coils and hides its head; sometimes throws its body into a loose coil. Produces squeaking like sound when alarmed. Mostly feeds on snakes. Nothing is known about its venom. No bites are recorded from this species. Nothing is known of its breeding biology. Juveniles are seen in the month of June. Grows up to 1.3m.

Distribution - India : Endemic to Andaman and Little Andaman Islands.

External link : http://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Bungarus&species=andamanensis