Boiga dendrophila melanota

Boiga dendrophila melanota
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Colubridae
Subfamily: Colubrinae
Genus: Boiga
Species: B. dendrophila
Subspecies: B. d. melanota
Trinomial name
Boiga dendrophila melanota
(Boulenger, 1896)

Description
The mangrove snake is one of biggest cat snake species in Asia. It is a shiny bluish black in colour, marked with 40-50 yellow stripes. The mouth and throat area are yellows, whereas the ventral part of the body is yellowish black. The eyes are greyish in colour. It is categorised as a mildly venomous snake.

Habits
An adult mangrove snake can reach a length of 2.5 m. It is active at night (nocturnal) and hunts for birds, rats and birds eggs, its main diet. Its large head and mouth enables it to swallows its prey easily.

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