Boiga ceylonensis
| Sri Lanka cat snake | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific 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 | |
Boiga ceylonensis (Sri Lanka cat snake) is a species of rear-fanged, mildly venomous, nocturnal, arboreal colubrid snake endemic to Sri Lanka.[2]
Description
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ 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.
- ^ Boiga ceylonensis at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 28 December 2015.
- ^ "Boiga ceylonensis (Sri Lankan Catsnake) GUNTHER 1858". Archived from the original on 2008-05-21. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
- ^ "WWW Virtual Library: Diversities and linkages in Sri Lanka". lankalibrary.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-02. Retrieved 2009-11-21.
References
[edit]- 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.