About Leptodeira annulata (Linnaeus, 1758)
Adult Leptodeira annulata reach a total length of approximately 750 mm (30 inches, including the tail), and have a very slender body build. Their head is clearly distinct from the neck, and their large eyes have vertically elliptic pupils. The dorsal surface is yellowish or brown, marked with a series of dark brown or blackish spots that often merge into an undulating or zigzag stripe. Leptodeira annulata is distributed across Mexico, Central America, and South America, and also occurs on the offshore islands of Margarita, Trinidad, and Tobago. This species lives in moist habitats. It is most commonly found in moist and dry forests, as well as in areas near forest edges, including well-vegetated developed zones adjacent to forest edges. It is often associated with riparian zones, and with the margins of swamps and marshes. All snakes in the genus Leptodeira, which includes L. annulata, are oviparous, and sometimes experience delayed fertilization. L. annulata eggs have been recorded in the fungus gardens of Acromyrmex ants and Atta colombica ants.
