Leptodeira annulata

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Cladus: Craniata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Lepidosauromorpha
Superordo: Lepidosauria
Ordo: Squamata
Subordo: Serpentes
Infraordo: Caenophidia
Superfamilia: Colubroidea

Familia: Dipsadidae
Subfamilia: Dipsadinae
Genus: Leptodeira
Species: Leptodeira annulata
Name

Leptodeira annulata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Original combination: Coluber annulatus

References

Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema Naturae per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis, Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiæ: impensis direct. Laurentii Salvii. i–ii, 1–824 pp DOI: 10.5962/bhl.title.542: 224. Reference page.
Leptodeira annulata at the New Reptile Database

Vernacular names
Deutsch: Bananennatter
English: Banded Cat-eyed Snake
español: Falsa Mapanare
français: Serpent coco
português: Serpente-olho-de-gato-anelada

The banded cat-eyed snake (Leptodeira annulata) is a species of medium-sized, mildly venomous, colubrid snake endemic to the New World.[3]

Common names

Additional common names include: cat-eyed night snake, come sapo, culebra de pantano, culebra destenida, machete savane, mapana de agua, mapana tigre, and ranera.[4]
Geographic range

It is found in Mexico, Central America, and South America, including the offshore islands of Margarita, and Trinidad and Tobago.[2]
Description

Adults are about 750 mm (30 in) long and very slender. The head is distinct from the neck, and the large eyes have vertically elliptic pupils. The back is yellowish or brown with a series of dark brown or blackish spots often confluent into an undulous or zigzag stripe.[1]
Venom

It has a pair of enlarged, grooved teeth at the rear of each upper jaw (maxilla),[1] and produces a mild venom.[citation needed]. The venom affects the snake's natural prey (mainly small frogs and small lizards). The snake tends not to bite humans when handled, but when it does, the venom has relatively mild effects in most individuals (some describe it as a slight irritating/itching sensation with slight swelling). The snake is not considered a risk to human health.
Habitat

It inhabits moist areas.[4] The snake tends to be found in forest (moist and dry forest) as well as in areas near forest edge (including well vegetated urbanized areas near forest edge). They are often associated with riparian zones, as well as the margins of swamps and marshes.
Behavior

Leptodeira annulata is nocturnal, and it hunts and feeds in trees and on the ground.[4]
Diet

It preys on frogs, frog eggs, salamanders, and small reptiles such as lizards.[4] It may also feed on fledgling birds.[citation needed]
Reproduction

Snakes of the genus Leptodeira are oviparous, sometimes exhibiting delayed fertilization.[5]
Subspecies

Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies.[3]

Leptodeira annulata annulata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Leptodeira annulata ashmeadi (Hallowell, 1845)

The subspecific name, ashmeadi, is in honor of Hallowell's "friend Mr. Samuel Ashmead".[6]
References

Boulenger, G.A. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ...). Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, Printers.) London. xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I.- XXV. (Genus Leptodira, pp. 88-89; species Leptodira annulata, pp. 97-98.)
The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org.
ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). www.itis.gov.
Freiberg, M.. 1982. Snakes of South America. T.F.H. Publications. Hong Kong. 189 pp. ISBN 0-87666-912-7. (Leptodeira annulata, pp. 100-101, 103 + photograph on p. 55.)
Wright, A.H., and A.A. Wright. 1957. Handbook of Snakes of the United States and Canada. Comstock. Ithaca and London. 1,105 pp. (in 2 volumes). ("Genus Leptodeira", pp. 415-418.)

Hallowell. 1845. p. 244.