Nature Atlas

How Nature Works
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme

Switch Atlas

Specy

Brown Tree Snake

Reptiles

The brown tree snake, also called the brown catsnake, is a slender, rear-fanged, arboreal colubrid native to eastern and northern coastal Australia, eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and many islands of northwestern Melanesia, reaching up to two metres in length and preying on animals from invertebrates to birds and small mammals. Accidentally introduced to Guam after World War II, it became infamous for extirpating most of the island's native bird population, and agencies now employ methods including aerial baiting to control its numbers and prevent its spread to new locations.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Carnivore 1
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 2
Threats
Invasive and Other Problematic Species, Genes and Diseases 3
Relationship to People
Invasive or Introduced Species 3
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Derived from this species' own Conservation Status: this atlas's IUCN category list has no Extinct value, so a set conservation-status is itself evidence of living status.
Scientific Name
Boiga irregularis 1
Conservation Status
Least Concern 1
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 4
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Boiga, Taxa
Source Brown tree snake (Wikidata)

In Biome

Grassland, Biomes
Source Brown Tree Snake (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Australia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Marshall Islands

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Mexico

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

South Asia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Brown Tree Snake (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia
  • Introduction
    The brown tree snake (Boiga irregularis), also known as the brown catsnake, is an arboreal rear-fanged colubrid snake native to eastern and northern coastal Australia, eastern Indonesia (Sulawesi to Papua), Papua New Guinea, and many islands in northwestern Melanesia.
  • Infobox: status
    LC
  • Lead section
    Brown tree snakes prey on a wide range of animals, from invertebrates to birds and even some small mammals.
  • In Biome: Grassland, Distribution and habitat
    The brown tree snake is not restricted to forested habitats; it also occurs in grasslands and sparsely forested areas.
View the Source
2. Brown tree snake (Wikidata)
Wikidata
  • Statements section, habitat (P2974): Terrestrial
    Wikidata habitat statement (P2974) resolves to a terrestrial habitat type.
  • Child Taxon Of: Boiga, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q1475483 (Boiga)
View the Source
3. Wikipedia: Brown tree snake
  • threat (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    Due to an accidental introduction after the events of World War II, this snake is now infamous for being an invasive species responsible for extirpating the majority of the native bird population in Guam.
  • human-interaction (MediaWiki batch-API article extract states it plainly)
    Due to an accidental introduction after the events of World War II, this snake is now infamous for being an invasive species responsible for extirpating the majority of the native bird population in Guam.
View the Source
4. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Boiga irregularis (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of ZoologyConservation Status: CITES
Quote, Conservation Status: CITES
CITES No special status
View the Source
Wikidata: Brown Tree Snake
Wikidata Q900781, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.