Boiga dendrophila, commonly called the mangrove snake or gold-ringed cat snake, is a species of rear-fanged colubrid from southeast Asia. It is one of the biggest cat snake species, averaging 6-8 feet (1.8-2.4 m) in length. It is considered mildy venomous. Although moderate envenomations resulting in intense swelling have been reported, there has never been a confirmed fatality.
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Description
Snout longer than eye; rostral more broad than deep, visible from above; internasals as long as or shorter than the prae-frontals; frontal as long as or slightly shorter than its distance from the tip of the snout; loreal as long as deep or more long; a praeocular extending to the upper surface of the head, not reaching the frontal; two postoculars; temporals 2 + 2 or 2 + 3; eight (nine) upper labials, third to fifth entering the eye; four or five lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields; latter as long as or longer than the posterior; anterior palatine teeth not much larger than the posterior. Scales in 21 (23) rows, vertebral row enlarged; ventrals 2O9-239; anal entire; subcaudals 89 no. Black above, with yellow transverse bands, continuous or not extending across the back; labials yellow, with black edges. Lower surface black or bluish, uniform or speckled with yellow; throat yellow. Total length 231 cm (7 ft 7 in).
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Behavior
Mostly nocturnal, it is a potentially aggressive snake. Even captive bred specimens can be nervous and may strike repeatedly. Although many specimens will calm down and allow handling, they are normally easily stressed and may refuse food for extended periods of time if disturbed. (Handling, of course, should involve safety precautions for the handler, due to their nervous nature and the fact that a bite can cause pain and injury.)
Geographic range
Indonesia (Bangka, Belitung, Borneo, Java, Sulawesi, Riau Archipelago, Sumatra), Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Philippines.
Subspecies
Including the nominotypical subspecies, nine subspecies are recognized as being valid.
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Boiga.
- Boiga dendrophila annectens (Boulenger, 1896) - Indonesia (Kalimantan); Brunei Darussalam; East Malaysia
- Boiga dendrophila dendrophila (F. Boie, 1827) - Indonesia (Java).
- Boiga dendrophila divergens Taylor, 1922 - Philippines (Luzon, Polillo)
- Boiga dendrophila gemmicincta (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) - Indonesia (Sulawesi).
- Boiga dendrophila latifasciata (Boulenger, 1896) - Philippines (Mindanao)
- Boiga dendrophila levitoni Gaulke, Demegillo & G. Vogel, 2005 - Panay (and probably other islands of the West Visayas region)
- Boiga dendrophila melanota (Boulenger, 1896) - S Thailand, West Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia (Sumatra)
- Boiga dendrophila multicincta (Boulenger, 1896) - Philippines (Balabac, Palawan)
- Boiga dendrophila occidentalis Brongersma, 1934 - Indonesia (Babi, Batu Archipelago, Nias, Sumatra)
The subspecific name, levitoni, is in honor of American herpetologist Alan E. Leviton (born 1930).
Habitat
Despite one of its common names, mangrove snake, B. dendrophila is found more often in lowland rainforests than in the mangrove swamps from which its common name is derived.
Diet
The mangrove snake feeds on reptiles, birds, and small mammals in the wild.
Venom
The venom of mangrove snakes is not considered life-threatening to humans, and they have been kept as pets.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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