Colubridae
Beddome's Cat Snake
HarmlessBoiga beddomei
6 photographs of the Beddome's Cat Snake. © Subhadra Devi.
The Beddome's Cat Snake (Boiga beddomei) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 2 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Beddome's Cat Snake
Boiga beddomei, commonly known as Beddome's cat snake, is a species of rear-fanged snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to the Western Ghats of India, in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa states.
Geographic range
B. beddomei is found in India, in northern parts of the Western Ghats in Maharashtra state (Bhimashankar, Mulshi, Koyna, Vasota). It is also found in Gujarat, Goa and northern karnataka in the hill ranges.
Etymology
Boiga beddomei is named after Richard Henry Beddome (1830–1911), British army officer and botanist.
Description
Boiga beddomei is a slender snake. The head is distinct from the neck. The vertebral scales are strongly enlarged. The dorsum is grayish brown with dark brown vertebral cross bars. The ventral surface is yellowish-cream, densely powdered with blackish spots.
Scalation
The dorsal scales are arranged in 19 oblique rows at midbody; the vertebral row is strongly enlarged and hexagonal. The ventrals number 238–252 and the subcaudals number 113–127.
Habitat
The preferred natural habitat of B. beddomei is evergreen forest, at altitudes up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft). It is nocturnal and arboreal in habits.
Diet
B. beddomei feeds mainly on dragon lizard, geckos, skinks and frogs.
Reproduction
B. beddomei is oviparous.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Beddome's Cat Snake
- Is the Beddome's Cat Snake venomous?
- The Beddome's Cat Snake (Boiga beddomei) is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to humans (its venom is weak and its fangs sit at the back of the mouth) but a bite can cause local swelling or irritation, so it should not be handled.
- Is the Beddome's Cat Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Beddome's Cat Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Beddome's Cat Snake dangerous?
- The Beddome's Cat Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Beddome's Cat Snake live?
- The Beddome's Cat Snake has verified records in 2 countries, including India, Sri Lanka. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Beddome's Cat Snake eat?
- B. beddomei feeds mainly on dragon lizard, geckos, skinks and frogs.
- Why is it called the Beddome's Cat Snake?
- Boiga beddomei is named after Richard Henry Beddome (1830–1911), British army officer and botanist.
Where it is found
More Colubridae snakes
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Boiga
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Boiga beddomei
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.