Boiga thackerayi explained

Boiga thackerayi, or Thackeray's cat snake, is arboreal, mostly seen close to forest streams, and is active during the night. It is rear fanged and is known to grow up to three feet in length. It is endemic to the Western Ghats, India.^[1]

Etymology

The epithet, thackerayi, is in honor of Indian conservationist and wildlife researcher Tejas Thackeray.^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}

Geographic range

Boiga thackerayi is described from Koyna region of Satara district in western Maharashtra, India.

It can be found from the mid-high elevation of western ghats in the States of Maharashtra,goa, karnataka, tamilnadu and Kerala.

Diet

It feeds on eggs of Humayun's night frog (Nyctibatrachus humayuni). This behavior was never reported in cat snakes from the Western Ghats earlier.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Boiga thackerayi GIRI, DEEPAK, CAPTAIN, PAWAR & TILLACK, 2019 . The Reptile Database . 1 August 2020.
2. Web site: Uddhav's son Tejas Thackeray discovers new snake species . The Week . 1 August 2020.
3. Web site: Newly discovered snake named after Uddhav Thackeray's son . The Indian Express . 27 September 2019 . The Indian Express [P] Ltd. . 1 August 2020.
4. Web site: News Species Of Cat Snake Found In Maharashtra, Named After Uddhav Thackeray's Family . Mid-Day . 27 September 2019 . Mid-Day Infomedia Ltd. . 1 August 2020.
5. Web site: Thackeray's cat snake and a case of mistaken identity . Scroll.in . 21 November 2019 . 1 August 2020.
6. Web site: New Snake Species Named After Uddhav Thackeray's Younger Son For His Contribution To Its Discovery . Outlook India . 27 September 2019 . 1 August 2020.