Western Mangrove Cat Snake (Boiga melanota): facts, sounds & photos

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Western Mangrove Cat Snake (Boiga melanota) lives in mangrove forest across Southeast Asia. It feeds on birds, rats, eggs.

Fascinating facts about the Western Mangrove Cat Snake

An adult western mangrove cat snake can reach a length of 2.5 metres (about 8 ft 2 in) and is nocturnal, hunting birds, rats and bird eggs.
It has 40-50 yellow stripes on its glossy bluish-black skin, while the ventral side is yellow-black.
When darkness falls, this snake becomes an active predator, hunting primarily at night and feeding on birds, rats and bird eggs. Its nocturnal lifestyle aligns with the activity patterns of its prey, allowing it to strike when competition is low. This timing reveals how night-time hunting can open up a niche few other reptiles exploit.
It is found in Thailand, West Malaysia, Singapore and Sumatra.
It is mildly venomous and rear-fanged, and was recently reclassified from within the Dendrophila family.

RangeSoutheast Asia

HabitatMangrove forest

Dietbirds, rats, eggs

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