Sri Lanka cat snake
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Genus: Boiga
Species:
B. ceylonensis
Binomial name
Boiga ceylonensis
(Günther, 1858)
Synonyms

Dipsadomorphus ceylonensis Günther, 1858
Dipsas ceylonensis Günther, 1864
Dipsadomorphus ceylonensis Boulenger, 1896
Boiga ceylonensis Smith, 1943

Boiga ceylonensis (Sri Lanka cat snake) is a species of rear-fanged, mildly venomous, nocturnal, arboreal colubrid snake endemic to Sri Lanka.[2]

Description

This is a thin-bodied, elongate, slim, tree snake. Taxonomic features: Dorsal Scales in 19 rows, oblique ; scales along the vertebral row much enlarged, and at mid body nearly as broad as long. Ventrals scales 217–237; the anals are undivided, subcaudals 95–109. The colour is brown or greyish above, with a series of blackish transverse cross bands ; nape with a blackish blotch, or three blackish longitudinal streaks, or a transverse bar ; a more or less distinct brown crown marking on top of head and a thick streak from the eye to the angle of the mouth ; lower parts yellowish, dotted with brown, usually with a lateral series of small brown dots. They are about 4 feet long from tip to tip with the tail 10 inches.

Distribution range

It is an endemic species to Sri Lanka. Previously believed to occur in the Western Ghats of India, but was falsified by recent studies.

Interaction with humans

This snake frequently ventures into human dwellings in search of prey such as geckos. It has a somewhat aggressive disposition and boldly strikes out when disturbed or cornered.[3] This snake is known as Nidi mapila by the Sinhala speaking community of Sri Lanka.[4]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ authors=Wickramasinghe, L.J.M. & Ganesh, S.R. (2021). Boiga ceylonensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/172672/1364227. Accessed on 14 March 2023.
  2. ↑ Boiga ceylonensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 28 December 2015.
  3. ↑ "Boiga ceylonensis (Sri Lankan Catsnake) GUNTHER 1858". Archived from the original on 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
  4. ↑ "WWW Virtual Library: Diversities and linkages in Sri Lanka". lankalibrary.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-11-21.

References

  • Günther, A. 1858 Catalogue of Colubrine snakes of the British Museum. London, I – XVI, 1 – 281
  • Wall, Frank 1921 Ophidia Taprobanica or the Snakes of Ceylon. Colombo Mus. (H. R. Cottle, government printer), Colombo. xxii, 581 pages
  • GANESH, S.R., N.S. ACHYUTHAN, S.R. CHANDRAMOULI & GERNOT VOGEL (2020). Taxonomic revision of the Boiga ceylonensis group (Serpentes: Colubridae): re-examination of type specimens, redefinition of nominate taxa and an updated key.4779 (3): 301–332.
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