Colubridae · Philippine record
Boiga schultzeiTAYLOR 1923
Venom: Rear-fanged venomous snake. Venom use is established for the genus; human medical significance and individual toxin activities are separate questions. The 2018 study directly examined B. cynodon and B. dendrophila, but not every Philippine Boiga species.
Abstract; genus-wide venom ecology and sampled species
Venom effects and medical significance are different from toxicity rankings. Do not handle a snake on the basis of this summary.
The species account characterises this snake as tree-dwelling. That broad ecological category does not establish canopy height, forest dependence or tolerance of habitat disturbance. Its atlas account links 1 named island or island-group record to the source literature.
Literature updated 2026-10-07 · Editorial review pending
Explore the island records ↓Species portrait
Boiga schultzei
Image to followThe illustrated collection
Adult · study plate
Boiga schultzei
Image to followJuvenile · study plate
Boiga schultzei
Image to followLife stages will be labelled from the contributor’s information. Images alone do not establish identification or a locality record.
Media provenance
Contributor images are forthcoming. Photographs and illustrations will retain their individual credits, permissions and evidence notes.
A closer look
Gaulke’s 2001 account, as cited by the database, was based on only two known specimens. That historical sample size does not establish the number known today or a current population estimate.
Literature documented · Comment: specimen count
Species-level database summary; literature review, not expert validation.
The cited account does not establish population-wide variation or the conditions at every Philippine locality.
The species account records egg-laying reproduction. A verified Philippine clutch-size range, incubation interval and breeding calendar are not established here.
Literature documented · Reproduction field
Reproductive mode reported for this named species.
Mode alone does not establish litter or clutch size, seasonal timing, or captive husbandry requirements.
The species account characterises this snake as tree-dwelling. That broad ecological category does not establish canopy height, forest dependence or tolerance of habitat disturbance.
Literature documented · Comment: Habitat
Species-level database summary; literature review, not expert validation.
The cited account does not establish population-wide variation or the conditions at every Philippine locality.
The atlas records Boiga schultzei from these named Philippine areas: Palawan. These are literature areas rather than a continuous range boundary.
Literature documented · Existing checklist occurrence statement and distribution review
The original evidence level is retained.
A country listing cannot establish an island or a precise locality.
Boiga schultzei is retained in the atlas’s dated checklist under Colubridae. The authority is TAYLOR 1923. Earlier names and the original source notes are preserved below for comparison.
Literature documented · Checklist identity and nomenclatural trail
Checklist verified 2026-09-05; not a newly revised taxonomic backbone.
Historical names can cover different biological concepts; synonyms should not be used to transfer records automatically.
Across the archipelago
Documented islands: gold · island groups: dashed circles
Island-level records · not continuous habitat coverage. Dashed circles locate groups, not individual observations.
Philippine distribution
Select an island to read its distribution record and sources. Uncoloured islands are not evidence of absence.
Philippines (Palawan) Type locality: Palavan Island (Philippines).
The atlas records Boiga schultzei from these named Philippine areas: Palawan. These are literature areas rather than a continuous range boundary.
The Reptile Database — species checklist, 17 June 2026 ↗Existing checklist occurrence statement and distribution review
Synopsis of the Snakes of the Philippines: A Synthesis of Data from Biodiversity Repositories, Field Studies, and the Literature ↗Existing checklist occurrence statement and distribution review
References attached to this species account. Island-specific evidence is shown separately where available.
The Reptile Database — species checklist, 17 June 2026 ↗
Three-Finger Toxin Diversification in the Venoms of Cat-Eye Snakes (Colubridae: Boiga) ↗
Living with wildlife
Venomous · rear-fanged · Effects not yet summarised in this atlas
Observe from a distance. Do not handle, corner or capture a snake to identify it. An incomplete venom account is not evidence that a species is safe to handle.
After a suspected snakebite, keep the person still and arrange urgent medical care. Avoid tight tourniquets, cutting, suction and unproven remedies. Do not wait to identify the snake before seeking help.
WHO guidance on snakebite first aidSpecies record
Range noteCountry/island text is not a range polygon or locality record.
Philippines (Palawan) Type locality: Palavan Island (Philippines).
Names through time
Boiga schultzei TAYLOR 1923: 552 Boiga schultzei — LEVITON 1968 Boiga schultzei — ALCALA 1986 Boiga drapiezii schultzei — WELCH 1988: 40 Boiga schultzei — GREENE 1989 Boiga drapiezii schultzei — GAULKE 1994: 137 Boiga schultzei — ORLOV et al. 2003 Boiga schultzei — WALLACH et al. 2014: 107 Boiga schultzei — WEINELL et al. 2020
Known from only two specimens (Gaulke 2001). Habitat: fully arboreal (Harrington et al. 2018).
Uetz, P.; Freed, P.; Aguilar, R.; Reyes, F.; Kudera, J.; Hošek, J. (eds.)
Leviton, A. E.; Siler, C. D.; Weinell, J. L.; Brown, R. M.
Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 64(14): 399–568
Dashevsky, D.; Debono, J.; Rokyta, D.; Nouwens, A.; Josh, P.; Fry, B. G.
Journal of Molecular Evolution 86: 531–545
DOI: 10.1007/s00239-018-9864-6
Explicit genus-wide venom ecology; directly samples B. cynodon and B. dendrophila. Species-specific toxin activity is not extrapolated across the genus.
Uetz, P.; Hallermann, J. et al. (editors)
Public species fields consulted for bounded biological summaries. Primary sources quoted within the database were not independently examined unless explicitly stated. The catalogue name may differ from the current source title.