cat snake
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What is a cat snake?
Cat snakes are any of several groups of rear-fanged snakes in the family Colubridae. Their eyes have vertically elliptical pupils similar to those of felines, and they are nocturnal hunters active at twilight.
These snakes have thin, laterally compressed bodies and triangular heads distinct from their necks. While their short rear fangs can deliver a mild venom, it's not dangerous to humans. They live on every continent except Antarctica.
Major groups of cat snakes include:
* Eurasian cat snakes (Telescopus)
* Old World cat snakes (Boiga)
* African cat snakes (Dipsadoboa)
* New World cat-eyed snakes (Leptodeira)1 Britannica SourceCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
Why is it called a cat snake?
Cat snakes are named for their vertically elliptical pupils, which resemble those of felines. These snakes are nocturnal hunters, and their unique pupils help them see in low-light conditions. During the day, the pupils contract into narrow, vertical slits, but at night, they expand to become nearly circular, allowing them to gather as much light as possible.
These arboreal or semiarboreal snakes are rear-fanged and mostly active at twilight. They are found on every continent except Antarctica. The cat snake stalks lizards, which is another reason for its name.
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Where do cat snakes live?
Cat snakes are rear-fanged snakes named for their vertically elliptical pupils, similar to those of felines. They are nocturnal hunters, active at twilight, and are found on all continents except Antarctica.
Different groups of cat snakes live in various regions:
- Eurasian cat snakes (Telescopus) inhabit dry regions of southeastern Europe, southwestern Asia, and northern Africa.
- Old World cat snakes (Boiga) are mainly distributed throughout Southeast Asia and the East Indies, with some species in Africa.
- African cat snakes (Dipsadoboa) are primarily restricted to rainforests and open woodlands south of the Sahara.
- Cat-eyed snakes (Leptodeira) of the New World tropics are found in dry habitats from Mexico to Argentina.
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What do cat snakes eat?
Cat snakes are nocturnal hunters that become active at twilight. They are found on all continents except Antarctica. Their diet varies depending on their geographic location and species.
- Eurasian cat snakes eat only lizards.
- Old World cat snakes consume birds, mammals, lizards, frogs, other snakes, and eggs.
- African cat snakes feed on frogs, toads, and tadpoles.
- Cat-eyed snakes mainly eat frogs and lizards.
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How does a cat snake defend itself from predators?
Cat snakes are nocturnal hunters that become active at twilight. Though cat snakes possess short rear fangs that can deliver a mild venom, it is not dangerous to humans.
When threatened by predators, some snakes, both harmless and venomous, hide their heads under their coiled bodies. Some snakes may coil so tightly that they form a compact ball with the head in the center. The display of bright colors is often a defensive mechanism, where some snakes will turn over or curl up their tails, exposing brightly colored undersides.
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What are some unique features of cat snakes compared to other snakes?
Cat snakes, belonging to the Colubridae family, have unique features that distinguish them from other snakes. They are mostly active at night, possessing vertically elliptical pupils that, like felines, dilate almost circularly in the dark to maximize light intake and contract to narrow, vertical slits during the day. Cat snakes are rear-fanged and possess short fangs that can deliver a mild venom that is not dangerous to humans. Their bodies are thin and compressed on the sides, with a triangular head distinct from the neck. Cat snakes are found on every continent except Antarctica.
2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
cat snake, any of several groups of arboreal or semiarboreal rear-fanged snakes in the family Colubridae with eyes having vertically elliptical pupils similar to those found in felines. Cat snakes are nocturnal hunters that become active at twilight. By day their pupils are contracted to narrow vertical slits, but as night falls the pupils expand to a nearly circular shape to let in as much light as possible. The body is thin and laterally compressed, and the head is triangular and distinct from the neck. Their short rear fangs can deliver a mild venom that is not dangerous to humans. Representatives occur on all continents except Antarctica. Some of the major groups are listed below.
Eurasian cat snakes (Telescopus) inhabit dry regions of southeastern Europe, southwestern Asia, and northern Africa. About 12 species are known; they feed entirely upon lizards, and females lay between 4 and 12 eggs to a clutch. European cat snakes (T. fallax) occur in six subspecies. They are moderately sized at 0.5β0.7 metre (1.6β2.3 feet) long, though some may reach 1.3 metres (about 4 feet). Clutch sizes in this species range from 4 to 6 eggs.
Other Old World cat snakes include Boiga, which is mainly distributed through Southeast Asia and the East Indies, with more than 35 species ranging from Pakistan to Australia. Two species (B. blandingii and B. pulverulenta) occur in Africa. This large and diverse group ranges in size from 0.5 to 2 metres (1.6 to 6.5 feet), though some can grow to be 2.8 metres (about 9 feet) long. They feed on birds, mammals, lizards, frogs, and other snakes, as well as the eggs of these animals. Breeding females of this genus lay between 3 and 15 eggs. One of the largest and most spectacular species is the black-and-yellow mangrove snake, or gold-ringed cat snake (B. dendrophila), a shiny black snake with a yellow crossbar pattern on its body. It ranges from the Malay Peninsula to the Philippines and can reach 2.5 metres (about 8 feet) in length.
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In addition to B. blandingii and B. pulverulenta, African cat snakes also include members of the genus Dipsadoboa. This genus is made up of 11 or more species that are primarily restricted to rainforests and open woodlands south of the Sahara; they are uniformly green to brown in colour, with yellow or orange eyes. African cat snakes are slender and grow to about 0.5β0.7 metre (1.6β2.3 feet) in length, though some may grow to 1.4 metres (about 4.5 feet). They feed upon frogs, toads, and tadpoles, and females lay 2β8 eggs in a clutch.
Often classified separately, cat-eyed snakes (Leptodeira) of the New World tropics are superficially similar to Old World cat snakes. Ten species of cat-eyed snakes occur in dry habitats from Mexico to Argentina. The most common species is the banded cat-eyed snake (L. annulata), which is found over the entire range of the genus. These snakes are light brown in colour with dark brown spots or blotches on the back, and they typically grow to 0.5β0.8 metre (1.6β2.6 feet), though specimens of 1.1 metres (about 3.6 feet) have been found. Banded cat-eyed snakes feed mainly upon frogs, but they also eat lizards. Breeding females deposit clutches of 3β12 eggs.