Colubridae
Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake
HarmlessLeptodeira approximans


2 photographs of the Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake. (c) Nolan Exe, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nolan Exe.
The Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake (Leptodeira approximans) is a rear-fanged, mildly venomous snake in the Colubridae family.
- Family
- Colubridae
About the Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake
Leptodeira approximans is a species of snake in the family Colubridae. The species is native to Ecuador, Peru, and Colombia.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake
- Is the Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake venomous?
- The Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake (Leptodeira approximans) is rear-fanged and only mildly venomous. It is not considered dangerous to humans (its venom is weak and its fangs sit at the back of the mouth) but a bite can cause local swelling or irritation, so it should not be handled.
- Is the Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake is neither poisonous nor venomous.
- Is the Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake dangerous?
- The Chayahuitas Banded Cat-eyed Snake is not dangerous to humans. It has no medically significant venom and bites only defensively if cornered or handled.
More Colubridae snakes
Ornate Cat-eyed SnakeLeptodeira ornata
Rhombic Cat-eyed SnakeLeptodeira rhombifera
Northern Cat-eyed SnakeLeptodeira septentrionalis
Venezuelan Cat-eyed SnakeLeptodeira ashmeadii
South American Banded Cat-eyed SnakeLeptodeira annulata
Southwestern Cat-eyed SnakeLeptodeira maculata
Rainforest Cat-eyed SnakeLeptodeira frenata
Black-banded Cat-eyed SnakeLeptodeira nigrofasciata
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
- OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards
- Squamata
- FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits
- Colubridae
- GenusA close-knit group of very similar species
- Leptodeira
- SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name
- Leptodeira approximans
Keep learning
- What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.
- Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
- What Is a Snake? Anatomy and the BasicsA clear overview of what makes a snake a snake: limbless body plan, anatomy, evolution from lizards, species diversity, and why they are ectothermic.
- How to Keep Snakes Out of Your Yard and HomeA practical guide to keeping snakes out of your yard and home using habitat changes that work, plus what to skip and what to do if one shows up.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.