Common Cat Snake
Boiga trigonata
A slender, patterned nocturnal snake found across the Indian subcontinent, often mistaken for a young viper due to its triangular head and vertical pupils.
- Adult length
- 0.6-1.0 m (2-3.3 ft)
- Range
- Indian subcontinent and parts of the Middle East
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Overview
The common cat snake is a slender, widely distributed member of the genus Boiga found throughout the Indian subcontinent and extending into parts of the Middle East. Its triangular head and vertically elliptical pupils often lead to confusion with vipers, despite its very different biology.
It is one of the most frequently encountered cat snakes in South Asia, regularly found near human habitation as well as in natural habitats.
How to identify it
- Slender body with a grayish, tan, or pale brown background
- Dark, zigzag or chevron-shaped blotches running down the back, sometimes forming a chain-like pattern
- Broad, triangular head clearly distinct from the neck, often causing confusion with vipers
- Vertically elliptical pupils
- Smooth scales
Distinguished from vipers by its slender body, smooth scales, and lack of a heat-sensing pit, as well as its more elongated proportions overall.
Habitat & range
Occupies a broad range of habitats including scrublands, rocky areas, agricultural land, and human settlements across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and parts of Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. It is semi-arboreal, using low vegetation, walls, and rock crevices as well as the ground.
It is highly adaptable and often found around buildings and gardens.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Nocturnal, becoming active after dusk to hunt. When alarmed, it flattens its head and body, contributing to its frequent misidentification.
Its diet includes lizards, small mammals, and occasionally birds and their eggs. It is oviparous, laying small clutches of eggs typically in the warmer months.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the common cat snake often confused with a viper?
Its triangular head and vertical pupils resemble those of vipers, though it lacks heat-sensing pits and has smooth scales.
Where is the common cat snake found?
It occurs throughout the Indian subcontinent and into parts of the Middle East.
What does the common cat snake eat?
It preys on lizards, small mammals, and occasionally birds and eggs.
Common Cat Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Common Cat Snake.
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