Brown Tree Snake (species: Boiga irregularis) in Cairns and Surrounds (Gaia Guide)
Cairns and Surrounds > Animalia > Chordata > Reptilia > Squamata > Colubridae > Boiga > Boiga irregularis (gallery)
Boiga irregularis
Brown Tree Snake


©Alexandre Roux: Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis)

©Lyle Vail: At night, Lizard Island Research Station.

©Alexandre Roux: Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis)

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Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Reptilia
Order Squamata
Family Colubridae
Genus Boiga
Species Boiga irregularis
Status unspecified

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Colours

                        

Distinguishing features

A long, slender, agile snake with a broad head and distinct neck. Brown above with indistinct darker bands, paler below. Large eyes with a narrow, vertical pupil.

Size

  • Up to 200 cm (Length of specimen)

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution: Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis)

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia: Apparently rare at Lizard Island, known there only on the basis of the individual photographed here.

Behaviour

Nocturnal and arboreal.

Web resources

Danger

  • requires treatment - Due to the placement of the fangs and their grooved rather than hollow architecture, the venom is difficult to convey into a bite on a human, and thus is only delivered in small doses. The venom appears to be weakly neurotoxic and possibly cytotoxic with localized effects that are trivial for adult humans; serious medical consequences have been limited to children, who are more susceptible because of their low body mass. (Wikipedia)