Spotted Cat Snake
Boiga multomaculata • Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Boiga, Species: Boiga multomaculata
Found across Southeast Asia, including countries such as India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and southern China.
Look up Spotted Cat Snake in the Snake Encyclopedia →Family
Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Colubridae, Subfamily: Colubrinae, Genus: Boiga, Species: Boiga multomaculata
Conservation
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution, tolerance for modified habitats, and stable overall population trends.
Physical Description
Features a light brownish or reddish-brown dorsal background color with dark brown to black blotches or crossbands along the body. The head is distinctively wider than the neck with intricate dark markings and a prominent dark band behind the eye. The eyes are relatively large with vertical pupils. Scales are smooth, and the body is slender and laterally compressed.
Size & Dimensions
The pictured specimen appears to be a subadult or young adult, approximately 60 to 90 cm in length. Typical adults reach total lengths of 90 to 120 cm, with maximum recorded specimens extending slightly beyond 130 cm.
Habitat
Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist lowland forests, secondary growth forests, agricultural areas, and human-disturbed environments. Often encountered near streams or in vegetation and sometimes found around human habitations.
Diet & Feeding
Primarily preys on small lizards, geckos, frogs, rodents, and occasionally nestling birds. Utilizes an active foraging strategy, often hunting nocturnally in trees or bushes.
Reproduction
Oviparous species, laying clutches of elongated eggs in hidden terrestrial microhabitats such as rotting logs, leaf litter, or crevices. Breeding typically occurs during warmer or wetter months.
Look-alikes
Can be confused with other cat snake species within the genus Boiga, such as Boiga drapiezii or Boiga cynodon, but is distinguished by its specific dorsal blotch pattern and facial markings.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its wide distribution, tolerance for modified habitats, and stable overall population trends.
Cultural Significance
Plays a role in local ecosystems as a predator controlling populations of small vertebrates like rodents and lizards. Frequently encounters humans due to its adaptability to suburban and agricultural landscapes.
Notable Features
Exhibits nocturnal habits, a specialized arboreal lifestyle with a prehensile tendency, and distinct vertical pupils adapted for low-light vision.