Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
Fig 4
Fig 5
Fig 6
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Family : COLUBRIDAE
Species : Boiga nigriceps
Maximum Size : 1.75 metres
The Black-headed or Red
Cat Snake inhabits primary and secondary lowland rainforest up to around
1000 metres elevation. It is mainly arboreal.
The body scales are reddish-brown or olive-grey, with faint darker flecks.
The top of the head is dark grey or grey-brown and the throat and labials
cream in colour. The ventral surface is pale.
Juveniles lack the dark colour on top of the head, which is covered with
black speckles.
The species preys on a variety
of vertebrates including lizards, frogs, birds and mice.
The Black-headed Cat Snake
ranges from southern Thailand and Peninsular Malaysia to Borneo, Sumatra and
Java.
Figs 1 to 3 : Reddish-brown specimen from lowland forest at the western
outskirts of Taman Negara, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia. It was
encountered at night as it drank from a forest stream.
Fig 4 : Brown specimen coiled in riparian
vegetation. Kinabatangan River, Sabah, Borneo.
Figs 5 and 6 : Juvenile from Gunung Arong, Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. The
dark colour on top of the head has yet to develop in this snake, which had
an estimated total length of 50 cm.
References :
Cox, van Dijk, Nabhitabhata, Thirakhupt, 1998. A photographic Guide to
Snakes and Other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.
New Holland.
Manthey U., Grossmann W., 1997. Amphibien und Reptilien Sudostasiens. Natur
und Tier - Verlag.
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