Northern Cat-eyed Snake

About the Northern Cat-eyed Snake

Leptodeira septentrionalis, the northern cat-eyed snake, is a species of medium-sized, slightly venomous snake, found from southern Texas to Costa Rica. The northern cat eye is medium size (up to 1 m [3.3 ft]). In general females are slightly longer than males. They have smooth scales, with a dark brown line or spot beside the eye and dark brown blotches (which can fuse to form a zigzag) running down their backs. These spots may vary in pattern geographically. Its head is distinctly wider than its neck and it has large bulging eyes with reddish irises and light brown elliptical pupils.

The northern cat eye is primarily arboreal and entirely nocturnal. At night, it hunts for frogs and their eggs and tadpoles; it is particularly known for feeding on those of the red-eyed tree frog. It swallows eggs, tadpoles, and small frogs alive but kills larger frogs with mild venom from its enlarged, grooved rear fangs. It will also consume lizards, toads, salamanders, small fish, and mice. When threatened it is able to flatten its head and spread its jaws although it rarely bites people.

The Northern cat eye is oviparous and produces... Wikipedia →