Common Name

Common Cat Snake or Indian gamma snake

Scientific Name

Boiga trigonata

Distribution

Found across India except in northeast states after Sikkim; absent from Indian islands

Habitat

Present in almost all types of forests and across a wide range of elevations

Venom

Venomous but not highly dangerous to humans; venom mainly used to subdue prey

Physical Features

• Medium-sized snake 70 to 100 cm long
• Slender body with a thin tail
• Grey brown upper body with cream irregular markings outlined in black Yellow-white or yellow-brown underside

Head Shape

Large and triangular-shaped, distinctly broader than the neck

Unique Markings

"Gamma" or "Y"-shaped marking on the head for easy identification

Lifespan

12 to 20 years

Diet

Primarily consists of small vertebrates (geckos but also small birds and frogs)

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following Snake Species:

1. Forsten's Cat Snake
2. Travancore Cat Snake
3. Egg-Eater
4. Boa constrictor

How many of the above-given Boiga species are found in India?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Answer: c

Explanation:

Species found in India are as follows:

Forsten's Cat Snake (Boiga forsteni): Found in most forests in India, but uncommon. Much larger and exhibits a wide range of colors. Usually has a patternless head and lighter crossbars across.

Yellow-green Cat Snake (Boiga flaviviridis): Found in Eastern Ghats & parts of dry peninsular India. Species found in 2013, earlier mistaken to be a variant of Beddome's Cat Snake.

Travancore Cat Snake (Boiga dightoni): Endemic to southern Western Ghats and very rare. Reddish-brown body with salmon-red blotches.

Indian Egg-Eater (Boiga westermanni): Found in dry scrubs of Central-Northern India. Specialized Egg eater. Reddish head with black blotches & yellow line along back. Refined to belong to the monotypic genus Elachistodon.