🐍 Many-spotted Cat-eyed Snake (*Leptodeira polysticta*)
🔤 Name English / nombre español / Name Deutsch
Many-spotted Cat-eyed Snake / Culebra ojo de gato manchada / Vielgefleckte Katzenaugennatter
⚠️ Identification note: This species identification is considered probable, but not fully certain. We welcome additional information or corrections from biologists and other experts. Please contact us if you can help confirm the identification.
🔬 Taxonomy & conservation
Family
Dipsadidae — dipsadine snakes
IUCN status
LC — Least Concern
ⓘ What does this mean?
About the IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List assesses the global risk of extinction of species using criteria such as population size and trends, geographic range, and the degree of population decline. The category shown here describes conservation status — it does not indicate whether an animal is dangerous to humans.
EX Extinct · EW Extinct in the Wild · CR Critically Endangered · EN Endangered · VU Vulnerable · NT Near Threatened · LC Least Concern · DD Data Deficient · NE Not Evaluated
🌿 Habitat & Ecology
Local distribution & habitat
In Costa Rica, it occurs on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, including Golfo Dulce, from sea level to 1,200 m elevation. It inhabits a wide variety of habitats but is most common near the edges of ponds where amphibians breed.
GBIF occurrence evidence around Yuyo
Costa Rica: 0 GBIF records
Within 5 km: 0 records
Within 10 km: 0 records
Within 25 km: 0 records
Within 50 km: 0 records
Photo from Yuyo
Diet & ecological role
It eats frogs, frog eggs, tadpoles, lizards, toads, salamanders, small fish, and mice, and is particularly known to feed on red-eyed tree frogs and their eggs and tadpoles.
Behavior
Primarily arboreal and entirely nocturnal, it hunts at night. It swallows eggs, tadpoles, and small frogs alive but kills larger frogs with mild venom. When threatened, it may flatten its head and spread its jaws, though it rarely bites people.
⚠️ Risk & safety
Risk Level
Venomous Nonlethal
📍📈 Local frequency
single
📖✨ Stories
Stefan K.: On January 31, 2024, a small bundle of what appeared to be three or four cat-eyed snakes was observed in front of the guesthouse. Other snakes previously encountered in the same area included a boa, a true coral snake, a false coral snake, and Oxybelis koehleri.
🎬 Related videos
Will be added if we are lucky enough to film an encounter.