Gold-ringed cat snake – Mangrove snake

- Boiga dendrophila

The Gold-ringed cat snake – Mangrove snake (Boiga dendrophila) It is widely distributed in Southeast Asia., including Indonesian, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Viet Nam, Cambodia and the Philippines. is native, but not common, in singapore. A population of mangrove snakes was also accidentally introduced to Texas.

Taxonomists currently recognize nine subspecies of mangrove snake. But, it is still debated whether some of them are distinct species, or if there are more subspecies to be determined. The nine recognized subspecies occupy different parts of the snake's range and exhibit slight color variations..

• Boiga dendrophila occidentalis – Indonesian (BABi, Batu Archipelago, Girls, Sumatra)
• Boiga dendrophilaannectens – Indonesian (Kalimantan); Brunei; Malaysia (East Malaysia).
• Boiga dendrophila dendrophila – Indonesian (Java).
• Boiga dendrophila divergens – Philippines (Luzon, Polillo)
• Boiga dendrophila gemmicincta – Indonesian (Celebes).
• Boiga dendrophila latifasciata – Philippines (Mindanao)
• Boiga dendrophila levitoni – Surigao del Sur (and others from the Visayas)
• Boiga dendrophila melanota: Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesian (Sumatra)
• Boiga dendrophila multicincta: Philippines (Balabac, Palawan)

This slender snake is primarily black with yellow scales around the face and bands around the body.. The yellow bands do not usually meet on the back or under the belly. the eyes of the Mangrove snake they are big, with narrow, vertical slits, which has earned it another common name: yellow ringed cat snake. The structure of the eyes allows you to see better at night, when active and hunting.

The Mangrove snake it is slightly venomous with rear fangs. Like other members of the family of colubrids, has a Duvernoy's gland, which is distinct from the venom gland and is composed of cells that produce saliva. Duvernoy's gland is located at the posterior end of the eye with a duct that connects to the rear fangs., which are enlarged and have grooves through which the poison flows. This is a common adaptation of snakes with rear fangs. The fangs are angled backwards to aid in biting and holding onto prey., although sometimes it is necessary to chew the prey so that the poison is injected correctly.

The toxin of the Mangrove snake, call denmotoxina, it is especially useful for hunting its main prey, birds. In a study published in 2006 in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, scientists found that the muscles of mice were not as susceptible to the Mangrove Snake's immobilizing venom as the muscles of birds. Snake venom is not lethal to humans, but can cause painful swelling and skin discoloration.

Although intoxication in humans is mild, visually, due to the alternating black and yellow transverse bands and the triangular cross section of the body, the Gold-ringed cat snake – Mangrove snake can be confused with the Banded krait (Bungarus fasciatus), which is extremely poisonous.

The Mangrove snake gets its name from the areas it inhabits: forests of mangrove, river areas and lowland forests. They spend most of their time basking in the sun on tree branches. 30 meters or more, but they descend to the forest floor at night to hunt.

These snakes hunt a wide variety of prey., like other snakes, lizards and frogs. Most often they seek out small mammals, like bats and birds (and her eggs).

The Mangrove snake lays its eggs in tree holes. Their clutch size is an average of 10 eggs, but it ranges between four and 15. After a gestation period of about 45 days, the pups are born. The pups measure about 20 centimeters long and have a color similar to that of adults.

Mainly occurs in mangrove or river habitats. During the day it remains motionless on the overhanging branches, but at night it becomes active, approaching the ground and feeding on other vertebrates, as rodents, small birds and their eggs, frogs, bats and, sometimes, other snakes. She is also an expert swimmer.

It is a venomous species with rear fangs. Although during the day it can seem quite tame, don't get too close, as some individuals may have an unpredictable temperament.

The population and trade study together with the education and information campaign, and habitat protection and restoration could help conserve populations of these mangrove snakes

The Gold-ringed cat snake it is a potentially aggressive snake, mostly nocturnal. Even captive-bred specimens can be nervous and can strike repeatedly. Although many specimens calm down and allow manipulation, they are usually easily stressed and may refuse food for long periods of time if disturbed. The manipulation, of course, must involve safety precautions for the handler, due to the nervous nature of the snake and the fact that a bite can cause pain and injury.

The most important thing when acclimating wild-caught animals is peace and quiet, preferably kept alone in a relatively small, dark terrarium.

Depending on the size of the adults, the measures of the terrarium can oscillate between 80 x 60 x 80 cm and 120 x 70 x 100 cm.. the climbing branches, best planted in abundance and providing hiding places, relax the animals. spray liberally, animals prefer to drink the spray water. Daytime temperature 27-29 °C, nocturnal 23-25 °C, humidity 60-90 %. Fluorescent tubes, wall or ceiling heating, substrate, for example, coconut fiber mixed with moss or coconut shreds or other loose, absorbent substrate.

rodents, birds, eggs, fish, frogs, lizards, Snakes. If the wild birds do not want to eat, quail eggs or even chicken eggs often help.

Puddles can cause skin and lung infections.
Wild-caught birds are always infested with endoparasites, usually protozoa and gastrointestinal or pulmonary nematodes, which should be treated with metronidazole or panacur respectively. Use ivermectin against nematodes.
Tendency to cannibalism even in individuals of the same size.

It is possible to keep them in pairs, but see the keyword “food”. I highly recommend single tenure, which should only be kept for mating attempts. 5-15 eggs, hatching (pups of 35-40 cm.) after 110-120 days to 27-29 °C.

The price of the "Gold-ringed cat snake – Mangrove snake" at the exotic animal market, ranges between 300 – 700 EUR.
Unfortunately, it is very difficult to find and obtain healthy animals.

1. Mangrove snake (English).
2. Serpent des palétuviers (French).
3. Mangroven-Nachtbaumnatter (German).
4. Cobra-Dos-Mangues (Portuguese).
5. "Ularburong – Serpiente del manglar" (español).