Sri Lanka cat snake

නිදි මාපිලා · nidi mapila

Boiga ceylonensis

Mildly venomous

A slender night-active tree snake with vertical cat-like pupils.

How to identify

1Vertical (cat-like) pupils

2Slender body, broad head, narrow neck

3Brown with darker cross-bars

Good to know

Mildly venomous (rear-fanged); bites cause only local pain and swelling. Clean the wound and monitor.

Up to 1.3 m

Length

Nocturnal & arboreal

Active

Lizards

Diet

Where it's found

Wet zoneIntermediate zoneDry zone

Trees and shrubs in forest, gardens and plantations.