Brown Tree Snake (species: Boiga irregularis) in taxonomy (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Animalia > Chordata > Vertebrata > Tetrapoda > Reptilia > Squamata > Serpentes > Colubridae > Boiga > Boiga irregularis (gallery)
Boiga irregularis
Brown Tree Snake


©Simon Gingins: Boiga irregularis at Lizard Island.

©Anne Hoggett: Brown Tree Snake at Lizard Island

©Lyle Vail: At night, Lizard Island Research Station

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

Lizard Island Field Guide
Lizard Island area: all known taxa

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.

These snakes are active at night. They can be aggressive if threatened but are not normally regarded as dangerous. However, they are weakly venomous and a bite from a large specimen could produce uncomfortable symptoms (Wilson and Swan, 2010).

Size

  • Up to 200 cm (overall length, Wilson and Swan, 2010)

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Local abundance

  • Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia: Not seen frequently

Behaviour

Nocturnal and arboreal.

Web resources

References

References that assist with identification

  • Wilson, S. and G. Swan (2010). A Complete Guide to Reptiles of Australia: 3rd Edition 558 pp. New Holland Publishers, Australia.