Notes on reproduction in the southwestern cat-eyed snake, Leptodeira maculata, and western cat-eyed snake, Leptodeira punctata (Serpentes : Colubridae), from Mexico

摘要

The reproductive cycles of Leptodeira maculata and L. punctata were examined from museum specimens collected in Mexico. Males followed a testicular cycle in which sperm were produced in spring, summer, and autumn. Egg production in L. maculata occured in spring and summer. The mean of 6 egg clutches was 8.7 +/- 1.5 SD, range = 7 to 11. The egg clutches of 10 and 11 are the maximum known from L. maculata. Leptodeira punctata produced eggs in spring, summer, and autumn. Mean clutch size of 9 egg clutches was 7.8 +/- 1.7 SD, range = 6 to 11. Apparently, only part of each female population produced eggs each year. The smallest reproductively active male L. maculata was 280 mm snout-vent length (SVL); the smallest reproductively active female was 480 mm SVL. The smallest reproductively active male L. punctata was 276 mm SVL; the smallest reproductively active female was 360 mm SVL. [References: 8]