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, and there are three recognized subspecies. www.reptile-database.org.
Geographic range Leptodeira frenata is found on the Atlantic slope from neotropical Mexico southward through Belize to northern Guatemala.
Habitat The preferred natural habitat of Leptodeira frenata is forest, at altitudes of .
Behavior Leptodeira frenata is terrestrial and partly arboreal.
Venom Leptodeira frenata is venomous. Bites to humans may cause intense pain, swelling, and bloody blisters.
Subspecies The following three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. Leptodeira frenata frenata Leptodeira frenata malleisi Leptodeira frenata yucatanensis
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).
References
Further reading 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 Museum 9: 125–199. (Sibon frenatum, new species). (Sibon annulatum yucatanensis, new subspecies, p. 67). (Leptodeira yucatanensis malleisi, new subspecies).