Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by Paul Smith, Karina Diarte, Alberto Esquivel and Mike Hamer and are used with permission.
FALSE WATER COBRA Hydrodynastes gigas
A large and highly aggressive snake of wetland areas, though not venomous it has no problems defending itself. The name False Water Cobra comes from the species habit of flattening the neck area and rising up to strike - in the manner of a cobra. Fortunately for you, if you are bitten, besides some local swelling you are in no danger - the species may look like a cobra but it is nowhere near as deadly.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
FIGURE 1 - (FPREP219PH) Adult head detail, PN Tinfunque, Departamento Presidente Hayes (Alberto Esquivel August 2003).
FIGURE 2 - (FPREP220PH) Adult, Asunción, Departamento Central (Mike Hamer 1983).
FIGURE 3 - (FPREP221PH) Adult roadkill, Arroyos and Esteros, Departamento Cordillera (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 4 - (FPREP222PH) Same individual ventral view (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 5 - (FPREP223PH) Same individual head detail (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 6 - (FPREP224PH) Same individual dorsal head detail (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 7 - (FPREP225PH) Same individual ventral head detail (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 8 - (FPREP226PH) Same individual pattern detail (Paul Smith October 2008).
FIGURE 9 - (FPREP227PH) Adult swimming, location unknown (Karina Diarte Photography)
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