Mangrove Snake*
Boiga dendrophila (Colubridae) Colubrids
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Strikingly colored, black and yellow-banded. A large snake; may grow to almost 2.5 m.
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: India to Southeast Asia, including Borneo. Habitat: Common in lowland forests, especially in riverine habitats and mangrove swamps.
DIET IN THE WILD: Mainly birds, but also takes fishes, frogs, small mammals, and other reptiles. A nocturnal hunter that basks on tree branches during the day.
REMARKS: The species, because it is isolated on various islands in Indonesia and the Philippines, has evolved into at least 9 known subspecies. Boiga spp. are known as “cat snakes” because their elliptical pupils resemble those of cats.
Unlike most “cats,” this animal is an adept swimmer. A venomous species: though no human fatalities are known, its bite can be extremely painful. Researchers isolated a toxin from the venom, and determined it to be a bird-specific neurotoxin.
*Not currently on display 12-13-12
Mangrove Snake*
Boiga dendrophila (Colubridae) Colubrids
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Strikingly colored, black and yellow-banded. A large snake; may grow to almost 2.5 m.
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: India to Southeast Asia, including Borneo. Habitat: Common in lowland forests, especially in riverine habitats and mangrove swamps.
DIET IN THE WILD: Mainly birds, but also takes fishes, frogs, small mammals, and other reptiles. A nocturnal hunter that basks on tree branches during the day.
REMARKS: The species, because it is isolated on various islands in Indonesia and the Philippines, has evolved into at least 9 known subspecies. Boiga spp. are known as “cat snakes” because their elliptical pupils resemble those of cats.
Unlike most “cats,” this animal is an adept swimmer. A venomous species: though no human fatalities are known, its bite can be extremely painful. Researchers isolated a toxin from the venom, and determined it to be a bird-specific neurotoxin.
*Not currently on display 12-13-12