Gold-ringed Cat Snake (Boiga dendrophila)

I cannot believe my eyes when a Gold-ringed Cat Snake (Boiga dendrophila) swam towards me, Chan Kwok Wai and Lim Swee Cheng. We were standing besides a small stream in Upper Peirce Reservoir on 24 October 2006 at 8.30 pm. It was a large specimen, approximately 2 m in total length and 2.5 kg in body weight. When mature, the Gold-ringed Cat Snake reaches a length of about 2.5 m (Lim & Lee, 1989; Lim & Lim, 1992; Cox et al., 1998). This arboreal species is also commonly known as the Mangrove Snake, but seems to be rarely found in local mangroves.

This mildly-venomous but docile snake is popularly used by local snake charmers (Lim & Lim, 1992) and "gor yok" peddlers. It is nocturnal and is known to hunt for small vertebrates such as birds, eggs, lizards and rodents (Lim & Lee, 1989; Lim & Lim, 1992). About 4 to 15 eggs are laid per clutch, and the incubation period is about 3 months (Lim & Lee, 1989; Cox et al., 1998). Hatchlings are about 40 cm and resemble adults (Lim & Lee, 1989; Cox et al., 1998).

Gold-ringed Cat Snake occurs in southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and part of Sumatra (Lim & Lee, 1989; Cox et al., 1998).

* Photograph from Mr Lim Swee Cheng


* Desktop Wallpaper from Mr Chan Kwok Wai

REFERENCES

Cox, M. J., van Dijk, P. P., Nabhitabhata, J. & Thirakhupt, K., 1998. A photographic guide to snakes and other reptiles of Peninsula Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd, p. 75.

Lim, F. L. K. & Lee, M. T. M., 1989. Fascinating Snakes of Southeast Asia – an Introduction. Tropical Press, Kuala Lumpur, p. 76.

Lim, K. K. P. & Lim, F. L. K., 1992. A Guide To The Amphibians & Reptiles Of Singapore. Singapore Science Centre, p. 73.

A Snakeful Night

Luck was with me on 29 September 2006.

Five snakes in a night!

There was a Common Malayan Racer (Coelognathus flavolineatus) that was faster than F1 racer, escaped before a photograph can be taken.


A Equatorial Spitting Cobra (Naja sumatrana) with cloudy eyes, suggesting that the snake is about to shed its skin.


A Keel-bellied Whip Snake (Dryophiops rubescens) roadkill.


A juvenile King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) roadkill.


And finally ... the skeletal remains of a large Reticulated Python (Python reticulatus) in a monsoon drain.

Ok, I cheated a bit. But dead snakes are still snakes, and are important for locality recording purposes.

Sightings are from a northern offshore island of Singapore.

Previous sightings:

http://singaporesnakes.blogspot.com/2006/08/another-snake-roadkill.html
http://singaporesnakes.blogspot.com/2006/08/snake-roadkills-in-singapore_01.html

* All photographs from Mr Norman Lim and Mr Chim Chee Kong

"Gor Yok" Uncle and His Gold-ringed Cat Snake

I chanced upon this uncle selling "gor yok" (膏药; medical oilment) in Jurong West today. On the table is this Gold-ringed Cat Snake (Boiga dendrophila) displayed in an opened red bag. I am not sure what the legless friend has got to do with the medicine the uncle is selling but it is definitely a crowd-puller!

People might have mistaken the snake for a highly venomous snake such as a cobra or a krait, and somehow formed an equation of "uncle not afraid of venomous snake" = "medicine is good" = "must buy!" Haha.