Boiga is a large genus of opisthoglyphous (rear-fanged), mildly venomous snakes, known commonly as cat-eyed snakes or simply cat snakes, in the family Colubridae. Species of the genus Boiga are native to southeast Asia, India, and Australia, but due to their extremely hardy nature and adaptability, have spread to many other suitable habitats around the world. There are 34 recognized species in the genus. According to the study done by Jiří Smíd regarding Old World cat snakes, the ancestor of the cat snake originated in Africa, from where it diversified and expanded to other countries. Despite this diversity however, the different species have very similar needs in terms of temperature and precipitation.[1]
Species and subspecies
- Boiga andamanensis Template:Small – Andaman cat snake
- Boiga angulata Template:Small – Leyte cat snake
- Boiga barnesii Template:Small – Barnes' cat snake
- Boiga beddomei Template:Small – Beddome's cat snake
- Boiga bengkuluensis Template:Small
- Boiga blandingii Template:Small – Blanding's tree snake
- Boiga bourreti Template:Small
- Boiga ceylonensis Template:Small – Sri Lanka cat snake
- Boiga cyanea Template:Small – green cat snake
- Boiga cynodon Template:Small – dog-toothed cat snake
- Boiga dendrophila Template:Small – gold-ringed cat snake, mangrove snake
- Boiga dendrophila annectens Template:Small
- Boiga dendrophila dendrophila Template:Small
- Boiga dendrophila divergens Template:Small
- Boiga dendrophila gemmicincta Template:Small
- Boiga dendrophila latifasciata Template:Small
- Boiga dendrophila levitoni Template:Small
- Boiga dendrophila multicincta Template:Small
- Boiga dendrophila occidentalis Template:Small
- Boiga dightoni Template:Small – Pirmad cat snake
- Boiga drapiezii Template:Small – white-spotted cat snake
- Boiga flaviviridis Template:Small
- Boiga forsteni Template:Small – Forsten's cat snake
- Boiga gocool Template:Small – arrowback tree snake
- Boiga guangxiensis Template:Small
- Boiga hoeseli Template:Small
- Boiga irregularis Template:Small – brown tree snake
- Boiga jaspidea Template:Small – jasper cat snake
- Boiga kraepelini Template:Small – Kelung cat snake
- Boiga melanota Template:Small
- Boiga multifasciata Template:Small – many-banded cat snake
- Boiga multomaculata Template:Small – many-spotted cat snake
- Boiga nigriceps Template:Small – black-headed cat snake
- Boiga nuchalis Template:Small – collared cat snake
- Boiga ochracea Template:Small – tawny cat snake
- Boiga philippina Template:Small – Philippine cat snake
- Boiga quincunciata Template:Small
- Boiga saengsomi Template:Small – banded cat snake
- Boiga schultzei Template:Small – Schultze's blunt-headed tree snake
- Boiga siamensis Template:Small – gray cat snake
- Boiga tanahjampeana Template:Small
- Boiga thackerayi Template:Small – Thackeray’s cat snake
- Boiga trigonata Template:Small – Indian gamma snake
- Boiga trigonata trigonata Template:Small
- Boiga trigonata melanocephala Template:Small
- Boiga wallachi Template:Small – Nicobar cat snake
- Boiga westermanni Template:Small – Indian egg-eating snake
Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was original described in a genus other than Boiga.
Description
Cat snakes are long-bodied snakes with large heads and large eyes. They vary greatly in pattern and color. Many species have banding, but some are spotted and some are solid-colored. Colors are normally black, brown, or green with white or yellow accents.Template:Citation needed
Behaviour
Snakes of the genus Boiga are primarily arboreal, nocturnal snakes.
Diet
Snakes of the genus Boiga prey on various species of lizards, small snakes, and birds, they also feed on other mammals in the wild.
Venom
The toxicity of Boiga venom varies from species to species, but is not generally considered to be life-threatening to humans. Since their venom doesn't usually harm humans, they are popular exotic pets.
Reproduction
Boiga species are oviparous.[2]
In captivity
Boiga dendrophila is by far the most common species in captivity, but B. cynea and B. nigriceps are also found. Nowadays, B. cynodon, B. philippina and a “Katherine morph” of B. irregularis are also circulating in the South-East Asian exotic pet trade. Others are not commonly available. They are hardy and adaptable and tend to do well in captivity after the initial period of stress from the importation process is passed. They are not bred commonly in captivity, so most specimens available are wild caught, and thus are prone to heavy internal parasite load. Adjusting them to a rodent only diet can be difficult for the inexperienced reptile keeper.Template:Citation needed
Invasive species
Boiga irregularis in particular has been federally banned in the United States because of its effect by accidentally being introduced to the island of Guam. Some time during the 1950s, some B. irregularis of both sexes (or possibly a single female with eggs) reached the island, possibly having hidden in imported plant pots. The island of Guam lacks native snakes or predators that can deal with snakes the size and aggressiveness of B. irregularis. As a result, it has bred unchecked as an invasive species, and has begun consuming the island's bird life in extreme numbers. Dozens of bird species have been completely eradicated from the island, many species that were found nowhere else on earth, and the snake has reached astonishing population densities, reported to be as high as 15,000 snakes per square mile. In addition to devouring the native fauna, this species will routinely crawl into power transformers, and, unfortunately for all involved, this typically results in both an electrocuted snake and substantial blackouts.[3]
References
- ↑ Genus Boiga at Wikispecies. species.wikimedia.org/wiki/Boiga.
- ↑ Rodda GH, Fritts TH, McCoid MJ, Campbell EW III (1999). "An Overview of the Biology of the Brown Treesnake (Boiga irregularis), a Costly Introduced Pest on Pacific Islands". pp. 44-80. In: Rodda GH, Sawai Y, Chiszar D, Tanaka H (editors) (1999). Problem Snake Management: the Habu and the Brown Treesnake. Ithaca, New York: Comstock Publishing Associates, a Division of Cornell University Press. 534 pp. Template:ISBN. http://www.stoppinginvasives.org/dotAsset/aa46f8a3-9334-4e55-b724-5f63ffaffc7f.pdf
- ↑ The Brown Treesnake on Guam. Fort Collins Science Center, United States Geological Survey.
Further reading
- Fitzinger LI (1826). Neue Classification der Reptilien nach ihren natürlichen Verwandtschaften. Nebst einer Verwandtschafts-tafel und einem Verzeichnisse der Reptilien-Sammlung des k.k. zoologischen Museums zu Wien. Vienna: J.G. Heubner. five unnumbered + 67 pp. + one plate. (Boiga, new genus, p. 60). (in German and Latin).