Ranawana’s golden cat snake  (Boiga ranawanei)

Classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List 2007 (1).

Ranawana’s golden cat snake is the sixth Boiga species to be discovered that is endemic to Sri Lanka (2). Members of this genus are commonly known as ‘cat snakes’ or ‘cat-eyed snakes’, and are typically thin, long-bodied snakes with large heads and large eyes, varying greatly in colour and pattern (3). This mildly venomous species (2) is yellowish-orange, darker above and paler below, flecked with intermittent dark scales on the upper surface.

Known from Gannoruwa Forest in Kandy District, Central Province, Sri Lanka (2) (4).

Nothing is recorded on this species’ habitat.

Very little is known about the biology of Ranawana’s golden cat snake, other than that, like other cat snakes, it is nocturnal (5). Cat snakes are primarily arboreal, nocturnal snakes that prey on various species of lizards, birds and rodents (3). Boiga species are oviparous (egg-laying) (3).

The threats to this species are unknown, but it is thought that they may be threatened by habitat destruction and pesticide use (1).

There are currently no conservation measures targeting this species.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.