Boiga is a large genus of rear-fanged, mildly venomous snakes, known commonly as cat-eyed snakes or simply cat snakes, in the family Colubridae. Species of the genus Boiga are native to southeast Asia, India, and Australia, but due to their extremely hardy nature and adaptability, have spread to many other suitable habitats around the world. There are 38 recognized species in the genus. According to the study done by Jiří Smíd regarding Old World cat snakes, the ancestor of the cat snake originated in Africa, from where it diversified and expanded to other countries. Despite this diversity however, the different species have very similar needs in terms of temperature and precipitation. Species and subspecies The following species and subspecies are recognized as being valid. Boiga andamanensis – Andaman cat snake Boiga angulata – Leyte cat snake Boiga barnesii – Barnes' cat snake Boiga beddomei – Beddome's cat snake Boiga bengkuluensis Boiga blandingii – Blanding's tree snake Boiga bourreti Boiga ceylonensis – Sri Lanka cat snake Boiga cyanea – green cat snake Boiga cynodon – dog-toothed cat snake Boiga dendrophila – gold-ringed cat snake, mangrove snake Boiga dendrophila annectens Boiga dendrophila dendrophila Boiga dendrophila divergens Boiga dendrophila gemmicincta Boiga dendrophila latifasciata Boiga dendrophila levitoni Boiga dendrophila multicincta Boiga dendrophila occidentalis Boiga dightoni – Pirmad cat snake Boiga drapiezii – white-spotted cat snake Boiga flaviviridis Boiga forsteni – Forsten's cat snake Boiga gocool – arrowback tree snake Boiga guangxiensis Boiga hoeseli Boiga irregularis – brown tree snake Boiga jaspidea – jasper cat snake Boiga kraepelini – Kelung cat snake Boiga melanota Boiga multifasciata – many-banded cat snake Boiga multomaculata – many-spotted cat snake Boiga nigriceps – black-headed cat snake Boiga nuchalis – collared cat snake Boiga ochracea – tawny cat snake Boiga philippina – Philippine cat snake Boiga quincunciata Boiga ranawanei – Ranawana’s cat snake Boiga saengsomi – banded cat snake Boiga schultzei – Schultze's blunt-headed tree snake Boiga siamensis – gray cat snake Boiga tanahjampeana Boiga thackerayi – Thackeray’s cat snake Boiga trigonata – Indian gamma snake Boiga trigonata trigonata Boiga trigonata melanocephala Boiga wallachi – Nicobar cat snake Boiga westermanni – Indian egg-eating snake Boiga whitakeri – Whitaker's cat snake Nota bene: A binomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was original described in a genus other than Boiga. Description Cat snakes are long-bodied snakes with large heads and large eyes. They vary greatly in pattern and color. Many