Thai National Parks

The gray cat snake (Boiga siamensis), also known as eyed cat snake or Siamese cat snake is a species of catsnake found in northeastern India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Description

The Siamese cat snake resembles the dog-toothed snake but it occupies a different geographical range. It is a large snake, reaching almost 2 m (6 1⁄2 ft) in total length. Colours are greyish-brown with black crossbars that are most distinct interiorly. The head is dark brown with a dark streak from behind the eye to the first body crossbar that is broken just beyond the last supralabial. The chin and throat are white, the ventrals white to light brown.

Behavior and venom

Mostly nocturnal, it is a potentially aggressive snake. It is a rear fanged venom snake but there are not known casualties registered. In 2014 while a study for the Prayao forest department (Thailand), herpetologist Frank Cuesta was bitten by a juvenile. The bite caused a very large edema along the entire arm and had to be treated at a hospital for over a month.

Geographic range

India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Habitat

These snakes are found in forest-hills and plains and can be found up to 1, 700m. They are arboreal but can be found near water too.

Diet

This snake feeds on, birds, and eggs.

Reproduction

Boiga siamensis is an oviparous species, with sexually mature females laying eggs, 6-12 per clutch.

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