Author: Snake Helpline

Mildly-venomous
Common Name: FORSTEN’S CAT SNAKE 
Odia Name: ଫର୍ଷ୍ଟେନଙ୍କ ଡାଳି ସାପ
Zoological Name: Boiga forsteni
Family: Colubridae
WL(P)A – Schedule – II

Long body & laterally flattened, smooth-scaled. Head distinctly broader than neck; large eye has vertical pupil. Two main colour forms, i.e. Red & black. In each form, the body pattern varies considerably: (i) uniform reddish-brown back with dull yellow markings; (ii) greyish-brown, brown or black blotches or bands that are interspersed with white patches. Hind-body has checkered pattern of same colours. Overall coloration can be very pale to very dark. In all colour forms, top of head has a dark mid-stripe, bounded on the neck by two additional marks.

Look-alikes: Common cat snake

Mildly-venomous
Common Name: COMMON CAT SNAKE 
Odia Name: ଡାଳି ସାପ
Zoological Name: Boiga trigonata
Family: Colubridae
WL(P)A – Schedule – II

Long body & laterally flattened, smooth-scaled. Head distinctly broader than neck; large eye has vertical pupil; tail very long.Light brown or tan with darkerzigzag markings which may be connected. Top of head has a distinct, pale Y shapedmark, which is sometimes black-edged. Often confused with Saw-scaled viper.

Look-alikes: Saw-scaled viper
Forsten’s cat snake

Mildly-venomous
Common Name: COMMON VINE SNAKE 
Odia Name: ଲାଉଡ଼ଙ୍କିଆ
Zoological Name: Ahaetulla oxyrhyncha
Family: Colubridae
WL(P)A – Schedule – II

Long & slender body, smooth-scaled. Extremely pointed head has extended snout. Large eye with horizontal pupil. Uniform parrot-green back, often with a thin white or yellow line separating upper body scales. Underside usually light green or yellow.

Look-alikes: Nil

Mildly-venomous
Common Name: Mock viper
Odia Name: ମିଛ ବୋଡା
Zoological Name: Psammodynastes pulverulentus
Family: Colubridae
WL(P)A – Schedule – II

Cylindrical body, smooth scales. ‘Viper-like’ head broader than neck, top of head has three or four long, dark. symmetrical lines. Short snout. Large eye with a vertically elliptical pupil, at times appears round. Body color varies from yellowish, reddish, pale to dark brown or grayish-black.  Underside glossy, powdered with brown, pink or gray.

Look-alikes: Himalayan pit viper