Beddome's Cat Snake

The Beddome's Cat Snake is a slender, arboreal, rear-fanged snake endemic to the Western Ghats of India. Named after Colonel Richard Henry Beddome, a British army officer and naturalist, this species is an important component of the Western Ghats biodiversity.

Like other cat snakes, it has mildly venomous rear fangs that pose minimal risk to humans. The venom is primarily used to subdue prey such as geckos, frogs, and small lizards. Bites may cause mild local symptoms but are not medically significant.

This nocturnal snake is an excellent climber found in the evergreen and semi-evergreen forests of the Western Ghats. Its brown body with dark crossbands provides camouflage against tree bark. The species plays an important role in controlling gecko and lizard populations in its forest habitat.