Kroon (1973) investigated morphological variation in the genus Boiga, a group of largely arboreal Southeast Asian snakes, and concluded that the name Boiga cynodon was being applied to two distinct species. The name was properly applied to snakes in the Philippines, Borneo, Java, and Sumatra and in the Malay Peninsula north to the Isthmus of Kra. North of the Isthmus of Kra in the Malay Peninsula, east to Vietnam, and north and west to Bengal and Assam is a second species which Kroon described as Boiga ocellata. Pauwels et al. (2005) later concluded that B. ocellata was a junior synonym of B. siamensis. According to Olov & Ryabov (2002), B. cynodon is known from Indonesia (Nias, Mentawai Islands, Sumatra, Riau Archipelago, Bangka, Billiton, Borneo, Java, Bali, Sumbawa, Flores), Malaysia (peninsular and Borneo), Singapore, Penang Island, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, eastern India, and the Philippines (Basilan, Culion, Leyte, Luzon, Mindanao, Palawan, Polillo).
Murphy (1977) reported on an unusual method used by B. cynodon to immobilize avian prey involving both the jaws and tail (the diet of B. cynodon reportedly consists mainly of birds and eggs).
Boiga cynodon was long assumed to be oviparous (Leviton 1968). This was confirmed by the report of captive reproduction by Quinn and Neitman (1978).
Leong and Shunari (2010) reported an attempt by a Black Spitting Cobra (Naja sumatrana) to kill and swallow a Dog-toothed Cat Snake (B. cynodon). This predation event was inadvertently interrupted by human observers, causing the cobra to regurgitate its dead and partially swallowed prey. The total length of the B. cynodon specimen was 233 cm, including the 50 cm tail (Leong et al. [2010] report that these largely arboreal and nocturnal snakes reach a maximum length of 270 cm).
