The Brown tree snake ( Boiga irregularis ) is an arboreal colubrid snake native to eastern and northern coastal Australia, Papua New Guinea, and a large number of islands in northwestern Melanesia.
This snake is infamous for being an invasive species responsible for devastating the majority of the native bird population in Guam.
Diet
The Brown tree snake preys upon birds, lizards, bats and small rodents in its native range. It preys on birds and shrews on Guam.
Due to the availability of prey and lack of predators in introduced habitats such as Guam, they have been known to grow to larger sizes than their normal 1 to 2 meters in length. The longest recorded length of this species is one found on Guam measuring three meters.
Reproduction
The reproductive characteristics of the Brown tree snake have not been widely studied. The female is known to produce 4-12 oblong eggs, 42-47 mm long and 18-22 mm wide with a leathery shell. Females may produce up to two clutches per year depending upon seasonal variations in climate and prey abundance. The female deposits the eggs in hollow logs, rock crevices, and other sites where they are likely protected from drying and high temperatures.
Venom
The Brown tree snake is a nocturnal snake that can be very aggressive when confronted. It is a rear-fanged colubrid, possessing two small, grooved fangs at the rear of the mouth. Due to the placement of the fangs and grooved rather than hollow fangs, the venom is difficult to convey into a bite on a human, thus is only given in small doses. The venom appears to be weakly neurotoxic and possibly cytotoxic with localized effects, but these effects are trivial for adult humans, and serious medical consequences have been limited to children due to their low mass. This snake is still not considered dangerous to an adult human. The venom seems to be primarily used to subdue lizards, which are more easily positioned in the rear of the mouth for venom delivery.
Invasive species
Shortly after World War II, and before 1952, the Brown tree snake was accidentally transported from its native range in the South Pacific to Guam, probably as a stowaway in ship cargo. As a result of abundant prey resources on Guam and the absence of natural predators outside of feral pigs and Mangrove monitors, Brown tree snake populations reached unprecedented numbers. Snakes caused the extirpation of most of the native forest vertebrate species; thousands of power outages affecting private, commercial, and military activities; widespread loss of domestic birds and pets; and considerable emotional trauma to residents and visitors alike when snakes invaded human habitats with the potential for envenomation of small children. Since Guam is a major transportation hub in the Pacific, numerous opportunities exist for the Brown tree snakes on Guam to be introduced accidentally to other Pacific islands as passive stowaways in ship and air traffic from Guam. Numerous sightings of this species have been reported on other islands including Wake Island, Tinian, Rota, Okinawa, Diego Garcia, Hawaii, and even Texas in the continental United States. An incipient population is probably established on Saipan. APAP has been used to help eradicate the snake on Guam.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Fritts, T.H.; D. Leasman-Tanner (2001). "The Brown Treesnake on Guam: How the arrival of one invasive species damaged the ecology, commerce, electrical systems, and human health on Guam: A comprehensive information source". U.S. Department of the Interior . http://www.fort.usgs.gov/resources/education/bts/bts_home.asp . Retrieved 2008-09-11 .
- ^ Pianka, Eric R.; King, Dennis; King, Ruth Allen. (2004). Varanoid Lizards of the World . Indiana University Press, 588 pages ISBN 0253343666
- ^ a b c Mehrtens, John (1987). Living Snakes of the World in Color . New York: Sterling. ISBN 0806964618.
- ^ Kraus, Fred (2004). "ALIEN SPECIES". Department of Land and Natural Resources State of Hawaii . http://www.state.hi.us/dlnr/Snake.html . Retrieved 2008-09-11 .
- ^ Davis, John (22 September 2007). "Acetaminophen proves effective weapon against brown tree snakes". Kuam.com . Guam's News Network . http://www.kuam.com/news/24582.aspx . Retrieved 2008-09-11 .
Brown Tree Snake
Hence, the brown tree snake is not dangerous to adult humans who will not allow such chewing to occur. However, on Guam there have been many cases where the snakes have crept into ...
Curing Guam's Snake Epidemic - National Zoo| FONZ
Since they were accidentally introduced to Guam in the late 1940s, brown tree snakes (BTS) have decimated the islands endemic birds and reptiles, causing the local extinction of ...
Brown tree snake - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The longest recorded length of this species is one found on Guam measuring three meters. [1] [edit] Reproduction. The reproductive characteristics of the Brown tree snake have not been ...
issg Database: Ecology of Boiga irregularis
In Guam the brown tree snake is found in all terrestrial habitats, but is especially common in forests and human-modified environments (Rodda et al).
The Brown Tree Snake on Guam
This area focuses on the invasive brown tree snake, the damage it has inflicted upon the biodiversity and economy of Guam, and possible measures for control or eradication.
Invasive Species: Animals - Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis)
Current U.S. Distribution: Guam (not currently established in the continental U.S.) Management Plans: Animals / Brown Tree Snake . Selected Internet Resources:
The Brown Tree Snake
... coloration occur in the snake's native range, ranging from a lightly patterned brown to yellowish/green or even beige with red saddle-shaped blotches. On Guam ...
Official Portal for the Island of Guam - Lt. Governor Speaks At Brown ...
Lt. Governor Michael W. Cruz, M.D. stands before an image of the brown tree snake at the Brown Tree Snake Technical Meeting this morning. Lt.
Guam's Wildlife Threatened by Invasive Snake
Sometime shortly after the end of World War II, an unwelcome predator found its way to the island of Guam: the Brown Tree Snake (Boiga irregularis).
Brown Tree Snake Colonization and Dispersal Events on Guam
This page lists dispersal events of the brown tree snake across and from Guam to other Islands.