Boiga melanota

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Boiga melanota
Boiga melanota on branch.jpg
Mangrove catsnake (Boiga melanota) in lowland dipterocarp forest (Bukit Lagong, Selangor)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Boiga
Species:
B. melanota
Binomial name
Boiga melanota
(Boulenger, 1896)
Synonyms

Boiga melanota, the western mangrove cat snake, [1] is one of the biggest cat snake species in Asia. It is found in Thailand, West Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia (Sumatra). It is shiny bluish black in colour, marked with 40-50 yellow stripes. The mouth and throat area are yellow, whereas the ventral part of the body is yellowish black. The eyes are greyish in colour. It is categorised as a mildly venomous snake.[ citation needed ]

Habits

An adult mangrove snake can reach a length of 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in). It is active at night (nocturnal) and hunts for birds, rats and birds eggs as its main diet. Its large head and mouth enables it to swallows its prey easily. Recently reclassed from within the Dendrophila family, they share some physical traits such as similar colouring and being rear-fanged.[ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

<i>Boiga</i> Genus of snakes

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.

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

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<i>Boiga ceylonensis</i> Species of colubrid snake

Boiga ceylonensis is a species of rear-fanged, mildly venomous, nocturnal, arboreal colubrid snake endemic to Sri Lanka.

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

Boiga cyanea, commonly known as the Green cat snake, is a colubrid snake species found in South Asia, China and South-east Asia.

<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.

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

Boiga jaspidea commonly known as the jasper cat snake is a species of rear-fanged colubrid that is uncommon throughout its range.

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

Boiga drapiezii, commonly known as Drapiez's cat snake and the white-spotted cat snake, is a species of long and slender rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Maritime Southeast Asia and is common throughout its range.

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

Boiga nigriceps is a species of colubrid snake from South-East Asia. They are large snakes; adults may attain a total length of 1.75 m.

<i>Bothrops bilineatus</i> Species of pit viper

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

Boiga philippina, also known as the tawny cat eyed snake or Philippine cat snake, a species of rear-fanged colubrid snake that is endemic to the Philippines.

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

The gray cat snake, also known as eyed cat snake or Siamese cat snake is a species of catsnake found in northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam. and Nepal

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

Boiga kraepelini, commonly known as the square-headed cat snake, Kelung cat snake, or Taiwanese tree snake, is a mildly venomous species of rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to East Asia and Southeast Asia. Its specific name, kraepelini, honours Karl Kraepelin, a German naturalist. The common name, Kelung cat snake, refers to its type locality, Keelung in northern Taiwan.

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

Boiga flaviviridis, the yellow-green cat snake, is a species of mildly venomous, rear-fanged snake of the family Colubridae, which is found in India. It is a rear fanged, nocturnal, arboreal species of snake that probably feeds on lizards, frogs and small birds. It was first described in 2013.

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

Boiga thackerayi, or Thackeray's cat snake, is arboreal, mostly seen close to forest streams, and is active during the night. It is rear fanged and is known to grow up to three feet in length. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.

References

  1. Henrik Bringsøe, 2001. Boiga melanota (Western Mangrove Cat Snake): Diet