Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. (www.repfocus.dk).
Latest update:
October 17th, 2024.
 
|
Genus
Leptodeira
 |
Typical Cat-eyed Snakes
|
 |
Eigentliche Katzenaugennattern
|
 |
Egentlige Katteøjesnoge
|
|
1843 |  |
Leptodeira Fitzinger (type species: Coluber annulatus Linnaeus 1758) |
|
1853 | |
Sphecodes Dumeril [not Sphecodes Latreille 1804 (Insecta); not Sphecodes Huebner 1806 (Insecta)] (type species: Coluber albofuscus Lacepede 1789) |
|
1861 | |
Megalops Hallowell (type species: Megalops maculatus Hallowell 1861) |
Contents:
19 species, of which 6 (31.6%) are endemic.
Endemism: 0%  100%
Remarks:
Previously included
Pseudoleptodeira latifasciata and
Tantalophis discolor. Although no taxonomic changes were proposed (but see maculata), Daza, Smith, Páez & Parkinson (2009) demonstrated that the number of species in this genus is currently underestimated. A comprehensive revision of the genus is still pending, however, some some forms have been recognized as separate species by some authors to reflect the high variation between different forms. Nevertheless, the following taxonomy should be regarded as tentative.
Distribution:
North, Central, and South America, from Texas to Argentina.
Reported from:
Argentina,
Aruba,
Belize,
Bolivia,
Brazil
(Acre,
Alagoas,
Amapa,
Amazonas,
Bahia,
Ceara,
Distrito Federal,
Espirito Santo,
Goias,
Maranhao,
Mato Grosso,
Mato Grosso do Sul,
Minas Gerais,
Para
[incl.
Marajo Island],
Paraiba,
Parana,
Pernambuco,
Piaui,
Rio de Janeiro,
Rio Grande do Norte,
Rondonia,
Roraima,
Sao Paulo,
Sergipe,
Tocantins),
Colombia,
Costa Rica,
Ecuador,
El Salvador,
French Guiana,
Guatemala,
Guyana,
Honduras
(incl.
Islas de la Bahia,
[Cayos Cochinos
(Cayo Cochino Pequeño)]),
Mexico
(Campeche,
Chiapas,
Chihuahua,
Coahuila,
Colima,
Durango,
Guanajuato,
Guerrero,
Hidalgo,
Jalisco,
Mexico State,
Michoacan,
Morelos,
Nayarit,
Nuevo Leon,
Oaxaca,
Puebla,
Queretaro,
Quintana Roo
[incl.
Cozumel],
San Luis Potosi,
Sinaloa,
Sonora,
Tabasco,
Tamaulipas,
Veracruz,
Yucatan,
Zacatecas),
Nicaragua,
Panama,
Paraguay,
Peru,
Surinam,
Trinidad & Tobago
(Tobago,
Trinidad),
USA
(Texas),
Venezuela
(incl.
Margarita).
| |
|
Leptodeira annulata
|
South American Banded Cat-eyed Snake, Annulated Cat-eyed Snake, Common Cat-eyed Snake, Southern Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Südamerikanische Gebänderte Katzenaugennatter, Bananennatter
|
|
Sydamerikansk Båndet Katteøjesnog
|
|
1758 | |
Coluber annulatus Linnaeus |
|
| |
Leptodeira annulata Fitzinger 1843 |
|
1789 | |
Coluber albofuscus Lacepede (Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970) |
|
1863 | |
Eteirodipsas annulata rhomboidalis Jan (Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970) |
|
1947 | |
Leptodeira rhombifera kugleri Shreve (Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970) |
Remarks:
Previously included approximans, ashmeadi, cussiliris (now synonymized with maculata; see Daza, Smith, Páez & Parkinson 2009), pulchriceps, and rhombifera.
Records of annulata from Mexico and Central America refer to the latter two species.
Without proposing taxonomic changes, Daza, Smith, Páez & Parkinson (2009) suggested that annulata (under which they included rhombifera)
is most likely a complex of species.
Subsequently, Barrio-Amorós (2019) reviewed the genus.
Distribution:
Argentina,
Bolivia,
Brazil
(Acre,
Alagoas,
Amapa,
Amazonas,
Bahia,
Ceara,
Distrito Federal,
Espirito Santo,
Goias,
Maranhao,
Mato Grosso,
Mato Grosso do Sul,
Minas Gerais,
Para
[incl.
Marajo Island],
Paraiba,
Parana,
Pernambuco,
Piaui,
Rio de Janeiro,
Rio Grande do Norte,
Rondonia,
Sao Paulo,
Sergipe,
Tocantins),
Colombia,
Ecuador,
French Guiana,
Guyana,
Paraguay,
Peru,
Surinam,
Trinidad & Tobago
(Tobago,
Trinidad),
Venezuela
(incl.
Isla Margarita).
|
|
|
Leptodeira approximans
|
Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Chayahuitas-Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Chayahuitas-katteøjesnog
|
|
1872 | |
Dipsas approximans Günther |
|
| |
Leptodeira approximans Costa, Graboski, Grazziotin, Zaher, Rodrigues & Prudente 2022 |
|
1884 | |
Eteirodipsas Wieneri Sauvage (syn. Costa, Graboski, Grazziotin, Zaher, Rodrigues & Prudente 2022) |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of annulata (e.g., Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970).
Revalidated as a separate species by Costa, Graboski, Grazziotin, Zaher, Rodrigues & Prudente (2022).
Distribution:
Colombia,
Ecuador,
Peru.
|
Leptodeira approximans
© Henrik Bringsøe
|
|
Leptodeira ashmeadi
|
Venezuelan Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Venezuelanische Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Venezuelansk Katteøjesnog
|
|
1845 | |
Coluber ashmeadi Hallowell |
|
| |
Leptodeira annulata ashmeadi Duellman 1958 |
|
| |
Leptodeira ashmeadi Barrio-Amorós 2019 |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a subspecies of annulata (e.g., Duellman 1958).
Revalidated as a separate species by Barrio-Amorós (2019).
Not mentioned for Guyana by Kuijpers (2024).
Distribution:
Brazil
(Roraima),
Colombia,
Guyana,
Trinidad & Tobago
(Tobago,
Trinidad),
Venezuela
(incl.
Margarita).
|
|
|
Leptodeira bakeri
|
Aruba Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Aruba-Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Aruba-katteøjesnog
|
|
1936 | |
Leptodeira bakeri Ruthven |
Remarks:
A record from Surinam is regarded as erroneous (Duellman 1958a).
Distribution:
Aruba,
Venezuela.
|
|
|
Leptodeira frenata
|
Rain Forest Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Regenwald-Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Regnskovs-katteøjesnog
|
|
1886 | |
Sibon frenatum Cope |
|
| |
Leptodeira frenatum Cope 1891 |
|
1887 | |
Sibon annulata yucatanensis Cope |
|
| |
Leptodeira yucatanensis Dunn & Stuart 1935 |
|
| |
Leptodeira frenata yucatanensis Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970 |
|
1935 | |
Leptodeira yucatanensis malleisi Dunn & Stuart |
|
| |
Leptodeira frenata malleisi Duellman & Werler 1955 |
Other common names:
frenata: Cope's Rain Forest Cat-eyed Snake
malleisi: Malleis' Cat-eyed Snake
yucatanensis: Peninsular Cat-eyed Snake
Distribution:
Belize,
Guatemala,
Mexico
(Campeche,
Chiapas,
Guerrero,
Oaxaca,
Quintana Roo
[incl.
Cozumel],
Tabasco,
Veracruz,
Yucatan).
|
|
|
Leptodeira larcorum
|
Peruvian Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Peruvianische Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Peruviansk Katteøjesnog
|
|
1943 | |
Leptodeira larcorum Schmidt & Walker |
|
| |
Leptodeira septentrionalis larcorum Duellman 1958 |
Remarks:
Now restricted to Peru (Torres-Carvajal, Sánchez-Nivicela, Posse, Celi & Koch 2020).
Previously regarded as a synonym of septentrionalis (e.g., Duellman 1958) or, more recently, of polysticta (e.g., Midtgaard 2019).
Revalidated as a separate species by Barrio-Amorós (2019).
Distribution:
Peru.
|
|
|
Leptodeira maculata
|
Mexican Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Mexikanische Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Mexicansk Katteøjesnog
|
|
1861 | |
Megalops maculatus Hallowell |
|
| |
Leptodeira septentrionalis maculata Dunn 1936 |
|
| |
Leptodeira maculata Taylor 1938 |
|
| |
Leptodeira annulata maculata Shannon & Humphrey 1964 |
|
1868 | |
Leptodeira personata Cope (Smith & Taylor 1945) |
|
1939 | |
Leptodeira smithi Taylor (Duellman 1966) |
|
1958 | |
Leptodeira annulata cussiliris Duellman (Daza, Smith, Páez & Parkinson 2009) |
|
| |
Leptodeira cussiliris Arechaga-Ocampo, Montalban-Huidobro & Castro-Franco 2008 |
Other common names:
cussiliris: Duellman's Cat-eyed Snake
Remarks:
Daza, Smith, Páez & Parkinson (2009) synonymized maculata with cussiliris, however, the valid name of the species is not cussiliris, as indicated by these authors, but maculata, being the older of the two names, as pointed out by Wilson, Mata-Silva & Johnson (2013) and Lemos-Espinal & Dixon (2013), who accepted the synonymization.
Distribution:
Guatemala,
Mexico
(Chiapas,
Colima,
Guerrero,
Hidalgo,
Jalisco,
Mexico State,
Michoacan,
Morelos,
Nayarit,
Oaxaca,
Puebla,
San Luis Potosi,
Sinaloa,
Tabasco,
Tamaulipas,
Veracruz).
|
|
|
Leptodeira misinawui
|
Jubones Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Jubones-Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Jubones-katteøjesnog
|
|
2020 | |
Leptodeira misinawui Torres-Carvajal, Sánchez-Nivicela, Posse, Celi & Koch |
Distribution:
Ecuador.
|
|
|
Leptodeira nigrofasciata
|
Black-banded Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Schwarzgebänderte Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Sortbåndet Katteøjesnog
|
|
1868 | |
Leptodeira nigrofasciata Günther |
|
1869 | |
Leptodeira mystacina Cope (Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970) |
|
| |
Leptodeira nigrofasciata mystacina Shannon & Humphrey 1964 |
Remarks:
Although reported from Panama (Auth 1994; Villa, Wilson & Johnson 1988), presence in the country is unconfirmed (Solís, Ibáñez & Jaramillo 1996).
Distribution:
Costa Rica,
El Salvador,
Guatemala,
Honduras,
Mexico
(Chiapas,
Guerrero,
Michoacan,
Oaxaca),
Nicaragua.
|
|
|
Leptodeira ornata
|
Panamanian Small-spotted Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Panamaische Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Panamansk Katteøjesnog
|
|
1884 | |
Comastes ornatus Bocourt |
|
| |
Leptodeira septentrionalis ornata Duellman 1958 |
|
| |
Leptodeira ornata Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014 |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of septentrionalis (e.g., Duellman 1958) or, more recently, of polysticta (e.g., Midtgaard 2019).
Wallach, Williams & Boundy (2014) treated ornata as a separate species, based on Daza, Smith, Paez & Parkinson (2009), who, however, did not formally
separate ornata from polysticta, pending a comprehensive revision of the genus.
Subsequently, Barrio-Amorós (2019) revised the genus and revalidated ornata as a separate species.
Distribution:
Colombia,
Costa Rica,
Ecuador,
Honduras,
Nicaragua,
Panama,
Venezuela.
|
Leptodeira ornata
© Henrik Bringsøe
|
|
Leptodeira polysticta
|
Small-spotted Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Gesprenkelte Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Spættet Katteøjesnog
|
|
1895 | |
Leptodeira polysticta Günther |
|
| |
Leptodeira annulata polysticta Stuart 1935 |
|
| |
Leptodeira septentrionalis polysticta Duellman 1958 |
|
1895 | |
Leptodeira affinis Günther |
|
1913 | |
Leptodeira dunckeri Werner |
|
1941 | |
Leptodeira annulata taylori Smith (Duellman 1966) |
|
| |
Leptodeira septentrionalis taylori Shannon & Humphrey 1964 |
Remarks:
Previously included larcorum and ornata.
Formerly regarded itself as a subspecies of annulata (e.g., Stuart 1935) or, more recently, of septentrionalis (e.g., Duellman 1958).
Revalidated as a separate species by Campbell (1998), followed by many authors (e.g., Crother (ed.) 2008, 2012; García-Vázquez, Canseco-Márquez, Aguilar-López,
Solano-Zavaleta & Maceda-Cruz 2009; García-Vázquez, Canseco-Márquez, Gutiérrez-Mayén & Trujano-Ortega 2009; Wallach, Williams & Boundy 2014).
However, some authors have retained polysticta as a subspecies of septentrionalis, pending further evidence (e.g., Flores-Villela & Marquez 2004;
McCranie 2011, 2015; Rivas, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amorós & Kok 2012).
Validity as separate species supported by Barrio-Amorós (2019).
Although reported from Costa Rica (e.g., Duellman 1958a; Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970), the species has not been verified from the country, although it may occur in
the northern parts (Barrio-Amorós 2019).
Not listed for Sinaloa by Lemos-Espinal & Smith (2020).
Distribution:
Belize,
El Salvador,
Guatemala,
Honduras
(incl.
Islas de la Bahia
[Cayos Cochinos
(Cayo Cochino Pequeño)]),
Mexico
(Campeche,
Chiapas,
Colima,
Guerrero,
Jalisco,
Mexico State,
Michoacan,
Nayarit,
Oaxaca,
Puebla,
Quintana Roo,
Sinaloa,
Tabasco,
Veracruz,
Yucatan),
Nicaragua.
|
|
|
Leptodeira pulchriceps
|
Bodoquena Banded Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Bodoquena-Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Bodoquena-katteøjesnog
|
|
1958 | |
Leptodeira annulata pulchriceps Duellman |
|
| |
Leptodeira pulchriceps Costa, Graboski, Grazziotin, Zaher, Rodrigues & Prudente 2022 |
Distribution:
Argentina,
Bolivia,
Brazil
(Ceara,
Goias,
Mato Grosso,
Mato Grosso do Sul,
Minas Gerais,
Pernambuco),
Paraguay.
|
|
|
Leptodeira punctata
|
Western Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Westliche Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Vestlig Katteøjesnog
|
|
1867 | |
Crotaphopeltis punctatus Peters |
|
| |
Leptodeira punctata Boulenger 1887 |
|
1868 | |
Leptodeira pacifica Cope (Smith & Taylor 1945) |
Distribution:
Mexico
(Jalisco,
Nayarit,
Sinaloa,
Sonora).
|
|
|
Leptodeira rhombifera
|
Central American Banded Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Zentralamerikanische Gebänderte Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Centralamerikansk Katteøjesnog
|
|
1872 | |
Leptodeira rhombifera Günther |
|
| |
Leptodeira annulata rhombifera Duellman 1958 |
|
1895 | |
Leptodeira ocellata Günther (Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970) |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a subspecies of annulata. Regarded here as a separate species, following McCranie (2011).
Distribution:
Costa Rica,
El Salvador,
Guatemala,
Honduras,
Mexico,
Nicaragua,
Panama.
|
Leptodeira rhombifera
© Henrik Bringsøe
|
|
Leptodeira rubricata
|
Costa Rican Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Costaricanische Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Costaricansk Katteøjesnog
|
|
1893 | |
Sibon septentrionale rubricatum Cope |
|
| |
Leptodeira rubricata Taylor 1951 |
Remarks:
Previously regarded as a synonym of rhombifera (e.g., Peters & Orejas-Miranda 1970). Revalidated by Savage & Villa (1986) and Villa, Wilson & Johnson (1988).
Distribution:
Costa Rica,
Panama.
|
|
|
Leptodeira septentrionalis
|
Northern Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Nördliche Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Nordlig Katteøjesnog
|
|
1859 | |
Dipsas septentrionalis Kennicott |
|
| |
Leptodeira septentrionalis Stejneger 1891 |
|
| |
Leptodeira annulata septentrionalis Smith 1941 |
Remarks:
Previously included polysticta.
Records from Guerrero (e.g., Mulcahy 2007; Mulcahy, Beckstead & Sites 2011) probably refer to polysticta (Barrio-Amorós 2019).
Distribution:
Mexico
(Coahuila,
Guanajuato,
Hidalgo,
Nuevo Leon,
Puebla,
Queretaro,
San Luis Potosi,
Tamaulipas,
Veracruz),
USA
(Texas).
|
|
|
Leptodeira splendida
|
Splendid Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Pracht-Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Pragt-katteøjesnog
|
|
1895 | |
Leptodeira splendida Günther |
|
1938 | |
Leptodeira bressoni Taylor |
|
| |
Leptodeira splendida bressoni Liner 1994 |
|
1944 | |
Leptodeira ephippiata Smith & Tanner |
|
| |
Leptodeira splendida ephippiata Liner 1994 |
Other common names:
bressoni: Bresson's Splendid Cat-eyed Snake
ephippiata: Saddled Cat-eyed Snake
splendida: Günther's Splendid Cat-eyed Snake
Remarks:
Ponce-Campos, Huerta-Ortega, Heinze-Yothers & Smith (2003) listed bressoni as a separate species, but with no discussion.
Distribution:
Mexico
(Chihuahua,
Colima,
Durango,
Guerrero,
Jalisco,
Mexico State,
Michoacan,
Morelos,
Nayarit,
Puebla,
Sinaloa,
Sonora,
Zacatecas).
|
|
|
Leptodeira tarairiu
|
Paraiba Cat-eyed Snake
|
|
Paraiba-Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Paraiba-katteøjesnog
|
|
2022 | |
Leptodeira tarairiu Costa, Graboski, Grazziotin, Zaher, Rodrigues & Prudente |
Distribution:
Brazil
(Ceara,
Paraiba,
Pernambuco,
Rio Grande do Norte).
|
|
|
Leptodeira uribei
|
Chamela Cat-eyed Snake, (Uribe's False Cat-eyed Snake)
|
|
Chamela-Katzenaugennatter
|
|
Chamela-katteøjesnog
|
|
1992 | |
Pseudoleptodeira uribei Bautista & Smith |
|
| |
Leptodeira uribei Reyes-Velasco & Mulcahy 2010 |
Distribution:
Mexico
(Colima,
Guerrero,
Jalisco,
Michoacan,
Oaxaca).
|
|
|