Appearance
Adults are about 750 mm 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.Naming
Additional common names include: cat-eyed night snake, ''come sapo, culebra de pantano, culebra destenida, machete savane, mapana de agua, mapana tigre'', and ''ranera''.Two subspecies are recognized, including the nominotypical subspecies.⤷ ''Leptodeira annulata annulata''
⤷ ''Leptodeira annulata ashmeadi''
The subspecific name, ''ashmeadi'', is in honor of Hallowell's "friend Mr. Samuel Ashmead".
Behavior
''Leptodeira annulata'' is nocturnal, and it hunts and feeds in trees and on the ground.Habitat
It inhabits moist areas. The snake tends to be found in forest as well as in areas near forest edge . They are often associated with riparian zones, as well as the margins of swamps and marshes.Reproduction
Snakes of the genus ''Leptodeira'' are oviparous, sometimes exhibiting delayed fertilization.Food
It preys on frogs, frog eggs, salamanders, and small reptiles such as lizards. It may also feed on fledgling birds.Defense
It has a pair of enlarged, grooved teeth at the rear of each upper jaw , and produces a mild venom.. The venom affects the snake's natural prey . The snake tends not to bite humans when handled, but when it does, the venom has relatively mild effects in most individuals . The snake is not considered a risk to human health.References:
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