Boiga trigonata
Boiga trigonata, commonly known as the Indian gamma snake or common cat snake, is a species of rear-fanged colubrid endemic to South Asia.
Description
Boiga trigonata has anterior palatine and mandibular teeth scarcely larger than the posterior. Its eyes are as long as the distance from its nostril, large and has vertical pupil; the rostral is broader than deep with the internasal scales shorter than the prefrontal scales. The frontal scales are longer than their distance from the end of the snout and shorter than the parietal scales. The loreals are as long as they are deep, or, they can be deeper than they are long. B. trigonataBoiga trigonata has a yellowish-olive or pale grey colour along the back and a white black-edged zigzag markings which may be connected. Top of head has a distinct, pale Y shaped mark, which is sometimes black-edged. Scales on top of head large, smooth, and of different shapes. The belly is white or tan and can have a series of small brown spots along each side.
The total length is around 3 feet with a 7-inch tail.
Geographic range
Boiga trigonata type locality is the Perso-Baluchistan frontier.It is distributed throughout Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, southern Turkmenistan, southern Uzbekistan, southeastern Tajikistan, and Iran.
The race melanocephala is found in Pakistan; this form is variously considered as a subspecies, color variant, or full species.
Mimicry
Boiga trigonata strongly resembles venomous Echis carinatus in coloration and shape. Also, in India, these two species have almost identical geographic ranges.Diet and behavior
It is nocturnal and spends the day coiled up in palmyra fronds, among bushes, in thatched roofs, under tree bark or stones. Is an excellent climber. Common in many areas, often in houses, but, like other nocturnal snakes, it is rarely seen.Rear-fanged. Mild venom can paralyze small prey. When disturbed, may coil tightly, strike repeatedly, and vibrate tail.