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An official shared that a common cat snake was found near the Kotaraha guest house in 2022 in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
Common Name |
Common Cat Snake or Indian gamma snake |
Scientific Name |
Boiga trigonata |
Distribution |
Found across India except in northeast states after Sikkim; absent from Indian islands |
Habitat |
Present in almost all types of forests and across a wide range of elevations |
Venom |
Venomous but not highly dangerous to humans; venom mainly used to subdue prey |
Physical Features |
|
Head Shape |
Large and triangular-shaped, distinctly broader than the neck |
Unique Markings |
"Gamma" or "Y"-shaped marking on the head for easy identification |
Lifespan |
12 to 20 years |
Diet |
Primarily consists of small vertebrates (geckos but also small birds and frogs) |
IUCN Red List Status |
Least Concern |
About 15 species of Boiga are found in India, most are found in the Himalayas & NE India. 8 are found in peninsular India, and 4 are mentioned below.
REFERENCE- https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/1331756
Source:
PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following Snake Species:
How many of the above-given Boiga species are found in India? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four Answer: c Explanation: Species found in India are as follows: Forsten's Cat Snake (Boiga forsteni): Found in most forests in India, but uncommon. Much larger and exhibits a wide range of colors. Usually has a patternless head and lighter crossbars across. Yellow-green Cat Snake (Boiga flaviviridis): Found in Eastern Ghats & parts of dry peninsular India. Species found in 2013, earlier mistaken to be a variant of Beddome's Cat Snake. Travancore Cat Snake (Boiga dightoni): Endemic to southern Western Ghats and very rare. Reddish-brown body with salmon-red blotches. Indian Egg-Eater (Boiga westermanni): Found in dry scrubs of Central-Northern India. Specialized Egg eater. Reddish head with black blotches & yellow line along back. Refined to belong to the monotypic genus Elachistodon. |
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