Boiga

Last updated

Boiga
Boiga dendrophila.jpg
Boiga dendrophila , mangrove snake
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Genus: Boiga
Fitzinger, 1826

Boiga is a large genus of rear-fanged, mildly venomous snakes, known commonly as cat-eyed snakes or simply cat snakes, in the family Colubridae. Species of the genus Boiga are native to southeast Asia, India, and Australia, but due to their extremely hardy nature and adaptability, have spread to many other suitable habitats around the world. There are 38 recognized species in the genus. According to the study done by Jiří Smíd regarding Old World cat snakes, the ancestor of the cat snake originated in Africa, from where it diversified and expanded to other countries. Despite this diversity however, the different species have very similar needs in terms of temperature and precipitation. [1]

Contents

Species and subspecies

Mangrove snake at the United States National Zoological Park. Mangrove snake 1.jpg
Mangrove snake at the United States National Zoological Park.

The following species and subspecies are recognized as being valid. [2]

Nota bene : A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was original described in a genus other than Boiga.

Description

Cat snakes are long-bodied snakes with large heads and large eyes. They vary greatly in pattern and color. Many species have banding, but some are spotted and some are solid-colored. Colors are normally black, brown, or green with white or yellow accents.[ citation needed ]

Behaviour

Snakes of the genus Boiga are primarily arboreal, [3] nocturnal snakes.[ citation needed ]

Diet

Snakes of the genus Boiga prey on various small species of lizards, snakes, birds, and mammals.[ citation needed ]

Venom

The toxicity of Boiga venom varies from species to species, but is not generally considered to be life-threatening to humans. Since their venom does not usually harm humans, they are popular exotic pets.[ citation needed ]

Reproduction

Boiga species are oviparous. [4]

In captivity

Boiga dendrophila is by far the most common species in captivity, but B. cyanea and B. nigriceps are also found. Nowadays, B. cynodon, B. philippina and a “Katherine morph” of B. irregularis are also circulating in the South-East Asian exotic pet trade. Others are not commonly available. They are hardy and adaptable and tend to do well in captivity after the initial period of stress from the importation process is passed. They are not bred commonly in captivity, so most specimens available are wild caught, and thus are prone to heavy internal parasite load. Adjusting them to a rodent only diet can be difficult for the inexperienced reptile keeper.[ citation needed ]

Invasive species

Boiga irregularis in particular has been federally banned in the United States because of its effect by accidentally being introduced to the island of Guam. Some time during the 1950s, some B. irregularis of both sexes (or possibly a single female with eggs) reached the island, possibly having hidden in imported plant pots. The island of Guam lacks native snakes or predators that can deal with snakes the size and aggressiveness of B. irregularis. As a result, it has bred unchecked as an invasive species, and has begun consuming the island's bird life in extreme numbers. Dozens of bird species have been completely eradicated from the island, many species that were found nowhere else on earth, and the snake has reached astonishing population densities, reported to be as high as 15,000 snakes per square mile. In addition to devouring the native fauna, this species will routinely crawl into power transformers, and this typically results in both an electrocuted snake and substantial blackouts. [5] In addition, there has been many cases in Guam where deaths are recorded due to the venomous bites from the Boiga snakes. Although they are an invasive species, there has been evidence where there is reverse- colonization of South-East Asia from the Philippines, and the Australasia from Wallacea from multiple lineages within Boiga.

Related Research Articles

<i>Micrurus</i> Genus of reptiles

Micrurus is a genus of venomous coral snakes of the family Elapidae.

Philodryas is a genus of colubrid snakes endemic to South America, commonly called green snakes.

<i>Boiga dendrophila</i> Species of snake

Boiga dendrophila, commonly called the mangrove snake or the gold-ringed cat snake, is a species of rear-fanged venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to southeast Asia. It is one of the biggest cat snake species, averaging 8–9 feet in length. It is considered mildly venomous. Although moderate envenomations resulting in intense swelling have been reported, there has never been a confirmed fatality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Natricinae</span> Subfamily of snakes

The Natricinae are a subfamily of colubroid snakes, sometimes referred to as a family (Natricidae). The subfamily comprises 36 genera. Members include many very common snake species, such as the European grass snakes, and the North American water snakes and garter snakes. Some Old World members of the subfamily are known as keelbacks, because their dorsal scales exhibit strong keeling.

<i>Rhabdophis</i> Genus of snakes

Rhabdophis is a genus of snakes in the subfamily Natricinae of the family Colubridae. Species in the genus Rhabdophis are generally called keelback snakes, and are found primarily in Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colubrinae</span> Subfamily of snakes

The Colubrinae are a subfamily of the family Colubridae of snakes. It includes numerous genera, and although taxonomic sources often disagree on the exact number, The Reptile Database lists 717 species in 92 genera as of September 2019. It is the second largest subfamily of colubrids, after Dipsadinae. Many of the most commonly known snakes are members of this subfamily, including rat snakes, king snakes, milk snakes, vine snakes, and indigo snakes.

<i>Dendrelaphis</i> Genus of snakes

Dendrelaphis is a genus of colubrid snakes, distributed from Pakistan, India and southern China to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, the Philippines, Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. There are over forty described species. Asian species are known commonly as bronzebacks, while the Australo-Papuan species are simply called treesnakes. All are non-venomous and entirely harmless to humans.

<i>Lycodon</i> Genus of snakes

Lycodon is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly known as wolf snakes. The Neo-Latin name Lycodon is derived from the Greek words λύκος (lykos) meaning wolf and οδόν (odon) meaning tooth, and refers to the fang-like anterior maxillary and mandibular teeth. They are nonvenomous, but many members of this genus strongly resemble the venomous kraits in appearance, an example of Emsleyan mimicry.

<i>Sibynophis</i> Genus of snakes

Sibynophis is a genus of nonvenomous colubrid snakes, commonly called many-toothed snakes, which together with Scaphiodontophis make up the subfamily Sibynophiinae.

<i>Psammophis</i> Genus of snakes

Psammophis is a genus of snakes in the family Psammophiidae. The genus comprises 33 species, which are found in Africa and Asia. Psammophis are diurnal and prey on lizards and rodents which they actively hunt. All species in the genus are venomous, and the venom is considered mild and not dangerous to humans.

<i>Calamaria</i> Genus of snakes

Calamaria is a large genus of dwarf burrowing snakes of the family Colubridae. The genus contains 66 recognized species. The genus is endemic to Asia.

<i>Leptophis</i> Genus of snakes

Leptophis is a genus of colubrid snakes, commonly known as parrot snakes. The species within this genus are widely distributed throughout Mexico, Central and South America.

<i>Oxyrhopus</i> Genus of snakes

Oxyrhopus, the false coral snakes, is a genus of colubrid snakes that belong to the subfamily Dipsadinae. The genus is found in Central America and the northern part of South America, and it includes 15 distinct species.

<i>Atractus</i> Genus of snakes

Atractus is a genus of colubrid ground snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae. The genus includes more than 140 distinct species.

Rabdion is a genus of snakes of the family Colubridae.

<i>Pseudorabdion</i> Genus of snakes

Pseudorabdion is a genus of snakes of the family Colubridae.

<i>Xenodon</i> Genus of snakes

Xenodon is a genus of New World snakes in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae.

Stegonotus is a genus of snakes in the family Colubridae. Species of the genus Stegonotus are native to Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea.

<i>Oligodon huahin</i> Species of snake

Oligodon huahin, the Hua Hin kukri snake, is a species of kukri snakes in the genus Oligodon. The species was first discovered and described in late 2016, and the article was published July 13, 2017. It is only known from its type locality but its range is likely to be more extensive. O. huahin is thought to be very secretive, similar to other species of the genus Oligodon. This theory is supported by the type specimen, which all were males, suggesting that it was found during the mating season where males are out and actively search for females to reproduce. This may also explain why this species had not yet been discovered

References

  1. Genus Boiga at Wikispecies. species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Boiga.
  2. Genus Boiga at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
  3. Goin CJ, Goin OB, Zug GR (1978). Introduction to Herpetology, Third Edition. San Francisco: W.H. Freeman and Company. xi + 378 pp. ISBN   0-7167-0020-4. (Genus Boiga, p. 324).
  4. Rodda GH, Fritts TH, McCoid MJ, Campbell EW III (1999). "An Overview of the Biology of the Brown Treesnake (Boiga irregularis), a Costly Introduced Pest on Pacific Islands". pp. 44-80. In: Rodda GH, Sawai Y, Chiszar D, Tanaka H (editors) (1999). Problem Snake Management: the Habu and the Brown Treesnake. Ithaca, New York: Comstock Publishing Associates, a Division of Cornell University Press. 534 pp. ISBN   978-0801435072. http://www.stoppinginvasives.org/dotAsset/aa46f8a3-9334-4e55-b724-5f63ffaffc7f.pdf
  5. "The Brown Treesnake on Guam". Fort Collins Science Center, United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on 2007-07-17.

Further reading