Rare Albino Dog-toothed Cat Snake Morph: Singapore Nature 2022

Found this rare Albino Morph Dog-toothed Cat Snake, whilst herping in Singapore with friends June 2022. As far as I know, it is the only sighting of an albino of this species anywhere.

An albino snake is a type of snake that is born with a genetic abnormality known as albinism, which is a lack of pigmentation in the body and eyes. This leads to snakes that are white in color, or may be lacking a particular coloration that is typical, for example a snake that is usually yellow, white, and red might only be yellow and white. Albinism also typically causes a snake’s eyes to be solid red in color and may reduce the snake’s eyesight. Corn snakes and Burmese pythons are both fairly common types of albino snakes.

Albino snakes do not belong to a particular species of snake, but are instead various types of snakes that are born without the usual pigmentation seen in the species. This can be caused by genetic mutation or intentional breeding in an effort to produce snakes with a particular appearance. An albino snake does not necessarily have to be solid white, as some people may initially imagine based on albino mammals that are typically very pale with white hair. Because of the variety of colors in snakes, a single pigment may be missing due to albinism, and the albino snake may still be yellow, cream, or light brown. Albino corn snakes, for example, might be missing red pigmentation and still have yellow and brown coloring that provides the characteristic maize patterns that give the snakes their name. (all things nature)

Family : COLUBRIDAE. Species : Boiga cynodon Maximum. Size : 2.8 metres

The Dog-toothed Cat Snake inhabits lowland forests, particularly forest edge, and has adapted well to secondary, disturbed or open habitats. It is both terrestrial and arboreal.

The body is orange-brown to yellowish-brown, with white-edged irregular dark bars which extend from the neck to the tip of the tail. The bars on the tail are more closely spaced than those on the body. An identifying feature is the thick dark stripe behind the eye.

Tweedie (1957) reports the presence of specimens from Peninsular Malaysia which possess extensive dark mottling, such that the snake appears to be almost black throughout.

As is typical with the Boiga genus, the head is distinct from the neck, and the body is compressed laterally. The snout is rounded and the eyes large with a vertical pupil.

This snake reportedly feeds on lizards, small birds and their eggs, and small mammals. It is considered as mildly venomous.

The species is widespread in the region, occurring in Southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and island groups further east in Indonesia including Bali and Nusa Tenggara.

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Videograpahy:
Christian Bassett
Editing:
Christian Bassett
Camera:
Sony 4K FDR-AX700 Camcorder