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

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

Description

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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

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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

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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

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Notes

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  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

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  • 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.