Description: It is a medium-sized snake, with a slender body and a head only slightly distinct from the neck, bearing smooth scales that give it a glossy appearance. Coloration is highly variable, ranging from brownish and greenish to yellowish or gray, usually with irregular dark blotches or bands along the dorsum, enhancing camouflage. The belly is generally lighter and may show dark speckling; the eyes are relatively large, with round pupils, consistent with mostly diurnal activity.

Geographic distribution: It has a wide distribution across South America, including southern and southeastern Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and much of Argentina. Within Argentina, it occurs from subtropical to temperate regions, occupying multiple ecoregions and showing notable ecological adaptability.

Habitat: It inhabits a variety of terrestrial and semi-aquatic environments, such as grasslands, savannas, forest edges, wetlands, marshes, and rural landscapes. It is often found near water bodies, where shelter and prey are abundant, but it can also move through drier and human-modified areas.

Diet: It is an opportunistic carnivore, feeding mainly on amphibians, small reptiles, fish, and occasionally small mammals. Its feeding habits make it an important regulator of amphibian populations, particularly in wet and peri-aquatic habitats.

Behavior: This species shows mostly diurnal habits, with peak activity during mild daytime hours. It is quick and alert, typically fleeing when disturbed; if cornered, it may flatten its body and display defensive movements, although it poses no significant risk to humans.

Reproduction: It is an oviparous species, breeding mainly during warm seasons. Females lay clutches of several eggs in protected sites such as rotting logs or soil cavities. Hatchlings emerge fully developed and are independent from birth.

Conservation status: It is currently classified as Least Concern, due to its wide distribution and relative abundance. Nonetheless, local populations may be affected by wetland degradation, road mortality, and direct persecution, often resulting from confusion with venomous snakes.

Author of this compilation: EcoRegistros – 12/12/2025