Boiga nigriceps
Black-Headed Cat Snake | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Squamata |
Suborder: | Serpentes |
Family: | Colubridae |
Genus: | Boiga |
Species: | B. nigriceps
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Binomial name | |
Boiga nigriceps (Günther, 1863)
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Synonyms | |
Dipsas nigriceps Günther, 1863 |
Boiga nigriceps (black-headed cat snake) is a species of colubrid snake from South-East Asia.[1][2][3] They are large snakes; adults may attain a total length of 1.75 m (5+1⁄2 ft).[4]
Description[]
It gets its name from the greenish to blackish coloration of its head. Neonates and juveniles do not exhibit this dark color on the head until adulthood. The body color ranges greatly from brown, orange, red, and even black. The ventral region of the snake is yellowish below the neck and white for the rest.[citation needed]
Subspecies[]
Two subspecies are recognized:[2]
- Boiga nigriceps nigriceps (Günther, 1863)
- Boiga nigriceps brevicauda Smith, 1926
Distribution[]
Indonesia, Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand.[1][2]
Habitat[]
The black-headed cat snake is arboreal,[1] but frequently comes down to the ground in search of prey. They occupy lowland and mid-elevation tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia.
Venom[]
Little is known about the black-headed cat snake's venom toxicity on humans, but it is thought to be comparable to the severity of a copperhead. This rear fanged colubrid's bite rarely results in adverse effects due to its poor venom delivery system. Luckily their fangs' positioning doesn't result in any significant envenomation.
Symptoms tend to stay localized to the envenomation site, limiting the victim to minor pain.
Diet[]
The black-headed cat snake feeds on lizards, frogs, birds, small mammals[5] and other snakes in the wild.
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Grismer, L. & Chan-Ard, T. (2012). "Boiga nigriceps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T192237A2059586. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192237A2059586.en.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Boiga nigriceps at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 23 April 2016.
- ^ Vogel, Gernot; Janis Kruse (2004). "Checklist of the Genus Boiga (Serpentes: Colubridae)".
- ^ Heinz Klaus Thiesen. "Genus: Boiga (Cat Snakes)". Siam Info. Retrieved 23 April 2016.
- ^ "Black Headed Catsnake, Boiga nigriceps". REPTAQUATICS.com. Retrieved 2016-01-13.
- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Boiga
- Snakes of Southeast Asia
- Reptiles of Indonesia
- Reptiles of Malaysia
- Reptiles of Thailand
- Fauna of Borneo
- Reptiles described in 1863
- Taxa named by Albert Günther
- Colubrid stubs