Colubridae
Many-banded Cat Snake
HarmlessBoiga multifasciata
2 photographs of the Many-banded Cat Snake. © Ramnarayan K.
The Many-banded Cat Snake (Boiga multifasciata) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Colubridae family, recorded in 4 countries.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Many-banded Cat Snake
The many-banded tree snake (Boiga multifasciata) is a species of rear-fanged colubrid. Not much is known about it and it is rated as "data deficient" by the IUCN.
Description
Dorsally, it is grayish with oblique black crossbars, and has a series of whitish spots along the vertebral line. On the head, it has a pair of black streaks from the prefrontals to the occiput, another black streak from the eye to the commissure of the jaws, and another along the nape. The upper labials are black-edged. Ventrally, it is spotted or checkered with dark brown or black. Adults are about 875 mm (34.5 in) in total length.
Geographic range
It is found in India (Himachal Pradesh up to Sikkim), Nepal and Bhutan.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Many-banded Cat Snake
- Is the Many-banded Cat Snake venomous?
- The Many-banded Cat Snake (Boiga multifasciata) 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 Many-banded Cat Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Many-banded Cat Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Many-banded Cat Snake dangerous?
- The Many-banded Cat Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
- Where does the Many-banded Cat Snake live?
- The Many-banded Cat Snake has verified records in 4 countries, including India, Nepal, Bhutan. See the distribution section below for its full range.
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 multifasciata
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.