The specific name, catesbyi, is in honor of English naturalist Mark Catesby.

[3] U. catesbyi is native to the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

[2] Although the preferred natural habitat of U. catesbyi is forest at altitudes from sea level to 1,300 m (4,300 ft), it is also often found in disturbed areas.

[2] U. catesbyi preys upon frogs, lizards, and birds.

[2] Nota bene: A binomial authority or trinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species or subspecies was originally described in a genus other than Uromacer.