S'N'A Advanced Series : Episode 10 Mangrove Snake (Boiga dendrophila)

SNAKES N ADDERS ADVANCED SERIES: 
EPISODE: 10 
THE MANGROVE SNAKE or ULARBURONG:  
SCIENTIFICALLY KNOWN AS BOIGA DENDROPHILA 
 
For many keepers this is a dream species. One that potentially is absolutely riddled with pitfalls. It’s easy to understand why this species is so coveted, I mean; JUST LOOK AT IT!. Even given time it is hard to think of a more visually striking animal, the combination of high gloss blue/black and the contrasting yolk yellows coupled with eventual adult size make this one of the ultimate display species.  
 
Most keepers know this as the snake you see before you but perhaps with thicker bands of yellow. The species most imported (and usually consigned to death) is Boiga dendrophila dendrophila from Java. This is actually quite a large and complex group of subspecies. 
 

This species was first decribed by Boie in 1827 as Dipsas dendrophila (oddly enough a new world genus of slug and snail eating snakes?) 

Further work was undertaken by Dumeril, Bibron and Dumeril in 1854 when they named Boiga dendrophil gemmicincta as a subspecies.  

Boulenger can be credited for recognising the diversity within the dendrophila species with his paper published in 1896 that identified: 

Boiga dendrophila annectans  

Boiga dendrophila latifasciata 

Boiga dendrophila melanota 

Boiga dendrophila multicincta 

 
Further subspecies have since been added including: 

Boiga dendrophila levitoni (2005)

Boiga dendrophila occidentalis (1934)

Boiga dendrophila divergens (1922)

 
Finding information about this species is hard going. I did however manage to find a distribution map for subspecies considered at the time by G.Peels in 1981.
 
DISCUSS DISTRIBUTION AS IDENTIFIED BY PEELS ON MAP.  
 
The most commonly encountered subspecies is still Boiga dendrophila dendrophila from Java which is exported as wild caught specimens from Indonesia. Also seen with increasing frequency are Boiga dendrophila melanota (this snake right here) and Boiga dendrophila gemmicincta from Sulawesi. 
 
One of the most coveted of the subspecies is Boiga dendrophila divergens from the Phillipenes. This along with the three other Filipino subspecies (latifasciata, multicincta and levitoni) are incredibly high value. The reason for this the Phillipenes do not export their natural fauna meaning the ones circulating in captivity are almost certainly from smuggled stock. I suppose the only saving grace is they are forced to be captive bred.  
 
In fact with the proliferation of captive breeding projects with this group and the animal being removed from the Dangerous Wild Animal License schedule in the United Kingdom prices have steadily been on the increase. This is not a straight forward species however and demand easily outstrips the captive bred supply which keeps prices inflated. People will therefore be tempted to chance their luck with imported specimens but this is haphazard at best even for experienced ‘geared up’ keepers.  
 
The species name ‘dendrophila’ translates as Tree Lover. This species is semi arboreal however and will also spend decent amounts of time on the floor of the enclosure. It stands to reason the species can modulate its arboreal tendancy depending upon location. If residing in coastal tidal forest (mangrove) they are almost exclusively arboreal. Truth be told however the mangrove only makes up a portion of the animals natural range and occurs in primary and secondary forest as well.  
 
This is a large species, whilst the Dog Tooth Cat Snake (Boiga cynodon) and Brown Cat Snake (Boiga irregularis) may have greater documented lengths they carry nowhere near the mass of a fully mature Mangrove. This is a chunky snake that is both intimidating and impressive.  
 
This species is easily stressed, will fast if disturbed too regularly and can be prone to violent defensive outbursts without much notice. Mangrove snakes will raise a number of coils, inflate their throat and gape. With a snake the size of the one we have looked at you can imagine that would be enough to put most keepers off. Of course if pestered this snake will lash out and will chew actively as it bites. This is a rear fanged species or opistoglyphic snake. It has a specialised enlarged gland called the duvornoy’s gland which produces a highly modified saliva that is venomous. Enlarged grooved teeth towards the rear (actually more the middle) of the mouth deliver this venom. 
 
In the UK we have a Dangerous Wild Animal license and for a long time Mangrove snakes were on the schedule meaning only those with insurance and professionally checked enclosures could keep them. The paucity of captive breeding projects meant only the very cheap and usually very weak wild caught Mangroves were available. For the most part people didn’t bother.  
 
Once removed from the schedule interest spiked as you can well imagine. Animals coveted for their looks were now available to the general keeper.