Ranawana's Cat Snake

About the Ranawana's Cat Snake

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Ranawana's Cat Snake

Is the Ranawana's Cat Snake venomous?

The Ranawana's Cat Snake (Boiga ranawanei) 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 Ranawana's Cat Snake poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Ranawana's Cat Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.

Is the Ranawana's Cat Snake dangerous?

The Ranawana'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 Ranawana's Cat Snake live?

The Ranawana's Cat Snake has verified records in 1 country, including Sri Lanka. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Where it is found

More Colubridae snakes

• 
  Brown Tree Snake
  Boiga irregularis
• 
  Kelung Cat Snake
  Boiga kraepelini
• 
  Western Mangrove Cat Snake
  Boiga melanota
• 
  Gold-ringed Cat Snake
  Boiga dendrophila
• 
  Many-spotted Cat Snake
  Boiga multomaculata
• 
  Dog-toothed Cat Snake
  Boiga cynodon
• 
  Green Cat Snake
  Boiga cyanea
• 
  White-spotted Cat Snake
  Boiga drapiezii

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 ranawanei

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.