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, JP Brouard, Para La Tierra and Marianella Velilla and are used with permission.
NIGHT SNAKE Leptodeira annulata
A semi-arboreal species, the Night Snake is, as you might expect, is largely nocturnal in its habits. The slender body gives it great camouflage in low bushes and trees, whilst its slender form enables it to move rapidly amongst the tangle of branches. Check out the huge eyes that this snake has, giving it excellent night vision.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
Gallery 1
FIGURE 1a - (FPREP851PH) Adult, Chaco Lodge, Departamento Presidente Hayes (JP Brouard October 2013 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 1b - (FPREP852PH) Same individual as (FPREP851PH) lateral head (JP Brouard October 2013 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 1c - (FPREP853PH) Same individual as (FPREP851PH) dorsal head (JP Brouard October 2013 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 1d - (FPREP854PH) Same individual as (FPREP851PH) ventral (JP Brouard October 2013 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 1e - (FPREP855PH) Same individual as (FPREP851PH) cloaca (JP Brouard October 2013 - Para La Tierra).
FIGURE 1f - (FPREP228PH) Adult, Estancia Estrella, Departamento Concepción (Marianela Velilla December 2007).
FIGURE 1a

FIGURE 1a
FIGURE 1b

FIGURE 1b
FIGURE 1c

FIGURE 1c
FIGURE 1d

FIGURE 1d
FIGURE 1e

FIGURE 1e
FIGURE 1f

FIGURE 1f
Gallery 2 - Defensive Behaviour
The pattern of this species closely resembles certain venomous Bothrops and when molested the species takes a series of measures to look even more like one. Note how the resting head position (FIG 2a, 2c) is changed into a "triangular" head shape, recalling a Bothrops (FIG 2b, 2d), when the snake is molested.
FIGURE 2a - (FPREP971PH) Adult lateral head normal, Fortín Toledo, Departamento Boquerón (Paul Smith October 2017).
FIGURE 2b - (FPREP972PH) Same individual as (FPREP971PH) lateral head defensive (Paul Smith October 2017).
FIGURE 2c - (FPREP973PH) Same individual as (FPREP971PH) dorsal head normal (Paul Smith October 2017).
FIGURE 2d - (FPREP974PH) Same individual as (FPREP971PH) dorsal head defensive (Paul Smith October 2017).
FIGURE 2a

FIGURE 2a
FIGURE 2b

FIGURE 2b
FIGURE 2c

FIGURE 2c
FIGURE 2d

FIGURE 2d