Black-banded Cat-eyed Snake
Leptodeira annulata
A widespread nocturnal colubrid of the Americas with large cat-like eyes and a banded or blotched pattern, common near wetlands.
- Venomous?
- Mildly venomous
- Adult length
- 0.5-0.9 m (1.6-3 ft)
- Range
- Mexico to Argentina
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Overview
The black-banded cat-eyed snake, also known simply as the banded cat-eyed snake, is one of the most widely distributed neotropical colubrids, ranging from Mexico to Argentina. Its large vertical pupils give it a distinctly feline appearance.
It is mildly venomous but poses no real danger to humans, and it is frequently found around ponds and marshes hunting frogs.
How to identify it
- Tan to gray-brown body with dark brown or black blotches or bands along the length
- Large eyes with vertically elliptical pupils, giving a cat-like look
- Slender body, somewhat flattened head
- Smooth scales
- Distinguished from similar blotched colubrids by its enlarged eyes and nocturnal habits
Habitat & range
Found in a broad range of habitats from tropical forests to dry scrub, almost always near water such as ponds, streams, and marshes, from Mexico through Central America into much of South America.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Strictly nocturnal, foraging around water bodies for frogs and their eggs, as well as small lizards. Rests coiled in vegetation or under debris by day. Lays eggs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the black-banded cat-eyed snake dangerous?
It is mildly venomous but not considered dangerous to humans.
Why are its eyes described as cat-like?
It has large, vertically elliptical pupils that resemble a cat's eyes, an adaptation for nocturnal vision.
What does it eat?
Primarily frogs and their eggs, along with small lizards.
Where can it be found?
Near ponds, marshes, and streams across a huge range from Mexico to Argentina.
Black-banded Cat-eyed Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Black-banded Cat-eyed Snake.
