Northern cat-eyed snake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern cat-eyed snake |
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| A northern cat-eyed snake (Leptodeira septentrionalis), taken at Golfo Dulce Retreat, Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica | |
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The northern cat-eyed snake (scientific name: Leptodeira septentrionalis) is a medium-sized snake. It is found from southern Texas in the United States all the way to Costa Rica. This snake has a mild venom, but it rarely bites people.
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Appearance of the Northern Cat-Eyed Snake
The northern cat-eyed snake is a medium-sized snake. It can grow up to 1 meter (about 3 feet) long. Female snakes are usually a bit longer than males.
These snakes have smooth scales. They often have a dark brown line or spot near their eyes. Dark brown blotches run down their backs. These blotches can sometimes join together to form a zigzag pattern. The patterns might look different depending on where the snake lives.
The snake's head is clearly wider than its neck. It has large, bulging eyes with reddish centers. The pupils, which are the dark part of the eye, are light brown and shaped like an oval.
Behavior of the Northern Cat-Eyed Snake
The northern cat-eyed snake mostly lives in trees. It is also active only at night. This means it is an arboreal and nocturnal animal.
At night, it hunts for frogs and their eggs. It especially likes to eat the eggs of the red-eyed tree frog. The snake swallows eggs and small frogs whole and alive. For bigger frogs, it uses its mild venom. This venom comes from special grooved fangs located at the back of its mouth.
If the snake feels threatened, it can flatten its head. It can also spread its jaws wide. However, it almost never bites humans.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
The northern cat-eyed snake lays eggs. This means it is an oviparous animal. A female snake usually lays a clutch of 6 to 13 eggs at a time.
Baby snakes grow inside the eggs. They get their food from a yolk sac. This growth period lasts for about 79 to 90 days. When it's time to hatch, the baby snake uses a special "egg tooth" to break out of its shell. This egg tooth falls off soon after hatching.
Young northern cat-eyed snakes look just like the adult snakes. However, their colors are much brighter and fresher. These snakes continue to grow throughout their entire lives.
Where the Northern Cat-Eyed Snake Lives
The northern cat-eyed snake is found in many places. It lives in North America, including:
- The southern part of Texas in the United States.
- Many states in Mexico, such as Chiapas, Nuevo León, and Yucatán.
- Countries in Central America, including Guatemala, Honduras, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.
These snakes can be found at different heights above sea level. They live from sea level up to about 1,940 meters (about 6,365 feet) high.
In Costa Rica, you can find them on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. This includes areas like Golfo Dulce. They live up to 1,200 meters (about 3,937 feet) above sea level there. They can live in many different places. However, they are most common near the edges of ponds where frogs and other amphibians lay their eggs.
See also
In Spanish: Culebra ojo de gato norteña para niños
