Colubridae
Gold-ringed Cat Snake
HarmlessBoiga dendrophila
6 photographs of the Gold-ringed Cat Snake. © Andreas Manz.
The Gold-ringed Cat Snake (Boiga dendrophila) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 13 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Gold-ringed Cat Snake
Boiga dendrophila, commonly called the mangrove snake or the gold-ringed cat snake, is a species of rear-fanged venomous snake in the family Colubridae. The species is endemic to southeast Asia. It is one of the biggest cat snake species, averaging 8–9 feet (2.4–2.7 m) in length. It is considered mildly venomous. Although moderate envenomations resulting in intense swelling have been reported, there has never been a confirmed fatality.
Description
B. dendrophila has the following characteristics: Snout longer than eye; rostral broader than deep, visible from above; internasals as long as or shorter than the prae-frontals; frontal as long as or slightly shorter than its distance from the tip of the snout; loreal at least as long as deep; a praeocular extending to the upper surface of the head, not reaching the frontal; two postoculars; temporals 2 + 2 or 2 + 3; eight (nine) upper labials, third to fifth entering the eye; four or five lower labials in contact with the anterior chin-shields; latter as long as or longer than the posterior; anterior palatine teeth not much larger than the posterior.
Scales in 21 (23) rows, vertebral row enlarged; ventrals 209–239; anal entire; subcaudals 89. Black above, with yellow transverse bands, continuous or not extending across the back; labials yellow, with black edges. Lower surface black or bluish, uniform or speckled with yellow; throat yellow.
Behavior
Mostly nocturnal, B. dendrophila is a potentially aggressive snake. Even captive bred specimens can be nervous and may strike repeatedly. Although many specimens will calm down and allow handling, it is normally easily stressed and may refuse food for extended periods of time if disturbed.
Geographic range
B. dendrophila is present across Southeast Asia and Indochina, found in Cambodia, Indonesia (Bangka, Belitung, Borneo, Java, the Riau Archipelago, Sulawesi, Sumatra), Brunei, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Subspecies
Including the nominotypical subspecies, nine subspecies are recognized as being valid.
Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Boiga.
Boiga dendrophila annectens (Boulenger, 1896) – Indonesia (Kalimantan); Brunei Darussalam; East Malaysia
Boiga dendrophila dendrophila (F. Boie, 1827) – Indonesia (Java).
Boiga dendrophila divergens Taylor, 1922 – Philippines (Luzon, Polillo)
Boiga dendrophila gemmicincta (A.M.C. Duméril, Bibron & A.H.A. Duméril, 1854) – Indonesia (Sulawesi).
Boiga dendrophila latifasciata (Boulenger, 1896) – Philippines (Mindanao)
Boiga dendrophila levitoni Gaulke, Demegillo & G. Vogel, 2005 – Panay (and probably other islands of the West Visayas region)
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Gold-ringed Cat Snake
- Is the Gold-ringed Cat Snake venomous?
- The Gold-ringed Cat Snake (Boiga dendrophila) 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 Gold-ringed Cat Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Gold-ringed Cat Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Gold-ringed Cat Snake dangerous?
- The Gold-ringed Cat Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Gold-ringed Cat Snake live?
- The Gold-ringed Cat Snake has verified records in 13 countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines. See the distribution section below for its full range.
- What does the Gold-ringed Cat Snake eat?
- B. dendrophila feeds on reptiles (such as the hatchlings of green sea turtles), birds (possibly including milky storks), and small mammals (possibly including large treeshrews).
- Why is it called the Gold-ringed Cat Snake?
- The subspecific name, levitoni, is in honor of American herpetologist Alan E. Leviton (born 1930).
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 dendrophila
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.