A NEW SPECIES OF KRAIT, Bungarus (REPTILIA, ELAPIDAE, BUNGARINAE) AND THE FIRST RECORD OF THAT GENUS IN IRAN*

We describe a new species of krait (Elapidae, Bungarus ) from Baluchistan, Iran and that differs from all species of Bungarus except its closest relative Bungarus sindanus by having 17 dorsal midbody scale rows. The new species differs from the related allopatric Bungarus sindanus and B. caeruleus by a higher number of ventral plates and a different pattern and by an isolated occurrence in Baluchistan (Iran and Pakistan border region). The new species is especial by having a clear black spot in the loreal region and with an occasionally developed loreal plate (on both sides of head in the holotype).