Night Tiger

37833669085_b8c0d49bd6_k
Another night tiger tonight – its beautiful conspicuous red and yellow pattern moving along the forest floor

The brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis) is a medium-sized rear-fanged colubrid with substantial color variation depending on its locality – brown, pale yellow, orange, striped brown/white and red/yellow. The red and yellow morph occurs here in the Top End and has earned the common name “night tiger” from its conspicuous color pattern. Boiga irregularis is a nocturnal hunter feeding primarily on birds and small mammals, but occasionally reptiles and frogs. In Guam this species is invasive and responsible for plummeting bird populations.

The head of Boiga is very similar to cat-eyed snakes (Leptodeira spp.) in the New World, but its overall morphology looks somewhat like a cross between a blunt-headed vine snake (Imantodes spp.) and Leptodeira. As arboreal snakes they are capable of supporting their entire body weight by less than one third of their body length, maneuvering with ease across very thin perches. Also, the night tiger’s pupils can independently dilate to adapt to different light conditions, something I noticed after shining my head torch on the snake.

Photographed after disturbance [4] unless otherwise stated

38665684356_001ca02d30_k
24848232308_324663b61a_k.jpg
IMG_0558d.jpg
26945434319_f47becae8a_k.jpg
26945375279_fe68e91993_k
Photographed in situ [1]

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this:
close-alt close collapse comment ellipsis expand gallery heart lock menu next pinned previous reply search share star