Leptodeira frenata

Leptodeira frenata
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Colubridae
Genus:	Leptodeira
Species:	L. frenata
Binomial name
	Leptodeira frenata; (Cope, 1886)
Synonyms
	Sibon frenatum; Cope, 1886;

Last updated April 30, 2025

Leptodeira frenata, also known commonly as the Mayan cat-eyed snake and the rainforest cat-eyed snake, is a species of mildly venomous snake in the subfamily Dipsadinae of the family Colubridae. The species is native to Mexico, Guatemala, and Belize. There are three recognized subspecies.^[2]

Geographic range

Leptodeira frenata is found on the Atlantic slope from neotropical Mexico southward through Belize to northern Guatemala.^[1]

Habitat

The preferred natural habitat of Leptodeira frenata is forest,^[1] at altitudes of 150–450 m (490–1,480 ft).^[2]

Behavior

Leptodeira frenata is terrestrial and partly arboreal.^[1]^[2]

Venom

Leptodeira frenata is venomous. Bites to humans may cause intense pain, swelling, and bloody blisters.^[2]

Subspecies

The following three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies.^[2]

Leptodeira frenata frenata(Cope, 1886)
Leptodeira frenata malleisi Dunn & Stuart, 1935
Leptodeira frenata yucatanensis (Cope, 1887)

Nota bene: A trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Leptodeira .

Etymology

The subspecific name, malleisi, is in honor of ornithologist Harry Malleis (died 1931).^[3]^: 166

References

1 2 3 4 Lee, J.; Calderón Mandujano, R. (2013). "Leptodeira frenata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T63835A3129951. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
1 2 3 4 5 6 Species Leptodeira frenata at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.
↑ Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.

Cope, E.D. (1886). "Sibon frenatum, Cope, sp. nov.". p. 184. In: Ferrari-Pérez F (1886). "Catalogue of animals collected by the Geographical and Exploring Commission of the Republic of Mexico". Proceedings of the United States National Museum9: 125–199. (Sibon frenatum, new species).
Cope, E.D. (1887). "Catalogue of the Batrachia and Reptilia of Central America and Mexico". Bulletin of the United States National Museum. 32: 7–98. (Sibon annulatum yucatanensis, new subspecies, p. 67).
Dunn, E.R.; Stuart, L.C. (1935). "A New Race of Leptodeira from Northern Central America". Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology, University of Michigan (313): 1–3. (Leptodeira yucatanensis malleisi, new subspecies).

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[IUCN-1] 1 2 3 4 Lee, J.; Calderón Mandujano, R. (2013). "Leptodeira frenata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T63835A3129951. Retrieved 2 December 2021.

[RDB-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 Species Leptodeira frenata at The Reptile Database www.reptile-database.org.

[3] Beolens, B.; Watkins, M.; Grayson, M. (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. pp. xiii + 296. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5.

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