This result calls into question the monophyly of cobras and underscores the uncertainty of the homology of the hood spreading behavior in cobras and mambas. The relationships of "Dendroaspis", "Ophiophagus", and "Bungarus" differed between the parsimony and likelihood analyses, suggesting that more work is necessary to resolve the relationships of these problematic taxa. McDowell's findings in regard to the sister-group of "Bungarus" and the sea snakes ("Hydrophiinae") family, propose that the kraits might just be a per-mutable clade between the elapidae "palatine-erectors" and the hydrophiinae "palatine draggers". Two genera within the subfamily Hydrophiinae in particular, support McDowell's hypothesis. The two genera are "Salomonelaps" and "Loveridgelaps" due to many shared characteristics. Mao "et al." (1983) showed that this species, "Bungarus multicinctus" was slightly distinct from the other members of its genus and was immunologically more similar to "Laticauda", terrestrial Australian elapids, and true sea snakes than it is to "Elapsoidea sundevalli" (Sundevall's garter snake), "Naja naja" (Indan cobra) or two "Micrurus" species (New World or American coral snakes). Minton (1981), Schwaner "et al." and Cadle & Gorman (1981) all suggested similar things to Mao "et al." (1983) based on immunological data. The many-banded krait was more similar to the Australian elapids, "Laticauda" and true sea snakes than they were to numerous elapids they were compared to. The many-banded krait is a medium to large sized species of snake, averaging in length, with maximum lengths reaching . Its body is slender and moderately compressed. The scales of this species are smooth and glossy, with a noticeably distinct vertebral ridge. The colour of the snake is black to dark bluish-black with approximately 21–30 white or creamy white cross bands along the entire length of its upper body. More banding is seen in longer than average sized specimens. The tail is short and pointed, that is also black in colour with alternating white cross bands, of which there are 7–11. The belly of the snake is usually white in colour, but could be an off white or creamy white.