CAT SNAKE

(genus Telescopus), any of about 15 species belonging to the family Colubridae. Cat snakes have vertical pupils, like a cat, and are nocturnal, preying chiefly on lizards. Most cat snakes are about 70 cm (28 inches) long. Cat snakes occur in Africa and southwestern Asia; one, T. fallax, ranges to Europe. A number of snakes of other genera have vertical pupils and are sometimes called cat, or cat-eyed, snakes.