Boiga nuchalis

Boiga nuchalis is a species of rear-fanged colubrid snake found in India and Nepal. It is also called Ashahar's cat snake, in the honour of the central Indian herpetologist Ashahar Khan who studied it for half a decade.

Distribution

• Ashahar Khan found a specimen in the North-east forests of India but he predicted that its habitat and presence would extend to western ghats and southern forest areas.

Morphology

• Small to medium length, slightly compressed, medium bodied snake with a moderately long tail. Can grow to a maximum of about 1.20 meters. Head somewhat ovoid when viewed from above is distinct from neck with a rounded snout. Eyes are large in size with vertically elliptical pupils. Dorsal scales are smooth with single apical pits. The vertebral series is strongly enlarged. Ventral scales are laterally angulate. Dorsal scale count 21 (23) - 21 (23) - 15.

Behavior

• Nocturnal and arboreal. Occasionally seen on the ground searching for prey. Generally a mild disposition but has been observed to strike when approached. Ashahar Khan wrote that if the snake is provoked it will raise its fore body, coil into loops, often vibrating its tail and bites readily.

Food

• Ashahar's cat snake feeds especially on calottes but can eat tree frogs and geckos also like other cat snake species.